- #12 senior Ricky Stanzi for Iowa vs. #1 true freshman Rob Bolden for PSU
- Iowa needs to avoid turnovers, Stanzi has 9 Tds to 1 INT
- PSU's true freshman has 5 INTs to 3 TDs
The Running Backs
- #32 Iowa sophomore Adam Robinson is the #1 gun now for the Hawkeyes
- PSU has #22 senior Evan Royster and #21 junior Stephon Green
- Establishing the run game is always a big priority for either program
- Can Iowa shutdown the Nittany Lions ground attack and force Bolden to make plays?
The Receivers and Tight Ends
- QB Ricky Stanzi and the Iowa attack should be healthier than the '09 game
- #15 senior WR Derrell Johnson-Koulanos missed last year's game in Happy Valley and leads Iowa's solid WR/TE squad
- The TE position is often a huge part of the Iowa passing game
- #6 junior WR Derek Moye leads Penn State's receiving crew
- #83 senior Brett Brackett is a large WR at 6-6 242
Offensive Line vs. Defensive Line
- Iowa's defensive line is considered one of the best in the nation
- #94 Iowa senior DE Adrian Clayborn has been a little quiet thus far in '10
- #93 Iowa junior DT Mike Daniels doesn't start, but he is getting national attention
- PSU typically finds d-lineman to complement the Linebacker U motto
- #85 PSU senior Ollie Ogbu is a three year starter for the Nittany Lions
Linebackers
- Penn State is Linebacker U
- Iowa's linebackers were huge in '09
- #42 Iowa senior WLB Jeremiha Hunter is from York, PA and only returning starter for either squad and like last season is #2 in tackles for the Hawkeyes
- #33 Iowa senior MLB Jeff Tarpanian leads the Iowa's LBs in '10
- #48 PSU senior Chris Calasanti leads the 1-2-3 punch at LB U
Secondary
- Iowa's secondary is lead by returning safeties #9 junior Tyler Sash and #30 Brent Greenwood, while #28 junior Shaun Prater is the top corner this year
- #1 PSU junior FS Nick Sukay leads the Nittany Lions in the back 4
Special Teams
- Iowa has won the past two games in the kicking game
- Many would give the edge to Penn State heading into Kinnick Stadium
- Is this Joe Paterno's ace, as he heads into Iowa City?
- How will teams execute on Saturday night?
Coaching
- Joe Paterno - 45 years as head coach for PSU
- Kirk Ferentz - 12 years as head coach for Iowa
- The most seasoned staffs in the Big Ten squaring off
- Iowa will be missing long-time DC Norm Parker, for the third straight game, due to health reasons.
Outlook:
Field position is always important in football. Over the past nine games, there may not be any Big Ten game that field position hasn't turned out to be as huge factor for the winning program.
If Iowa can control field position and the line of scrimmage, Iowa is clearly worthy of the 7 point favorite.
Turnovers, penalties and special teams are likely statistics to keep a good eye on. Penn State has a true freshman at QB. Penn State has been very disciplined in there 3-1 start and have avoided penalties. Special teams could be an area where the Nittany Lions can be successful. Iowa is 3-1 and entered the season in the Top 10 by many. Special teams has been the only negative thus far.
Iowa and Penn State are usually close games. Iowa has played well at home scoring 35 points or more in three ball games. But, Penn State is clearly a better opponent, other than #16 Arizona, who upset Iowa 34-27, in Iowa's only road game in the out of conference. Penn State has already traveled to #1 Alabama, where they lost 3-24. So, a trip to Kinnick Stadium will not likely be as big a hurdle as it may have been had PSU had a traditional four game start at home, like Ohio State, this year.
Prediction:
#17 Iowa Hawkeyes 22
#21 Penn State 15
@ Kinnick Stadium
peace
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