In a game that showcases two programs that are nationally ranked in the Top 25, the No. 24 Indiana Hoosiers (+14) are taking on their Big 10 foe Penn State Nittany Lions (-14) at Beaver Stadium. This key afternoon game is scheduled to get underway at 12:00 p.m. ET and you can witness the action live on ABC.
Betting Preview: Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana is a live dog here and is currently getting 14 points. The Hoosiers are also receiving +500 moneyline odds while the Nittany Lions are -735. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 50 points. Some good live betting opportunities might be unveiled during this game.
Each team has posted a positive return this season as the Hoosiers have recorded 2.2 units and the Nittany Lions are up 2.6 units.
The Hoosiers have gone 7-2 straight up (SU), including 4-2 SU against Big 10 opponents. The Nittany Lions are 8-1 SU overall and 5-1 SU in conference play.
The Hoosiers are coming off a resounding 34-3 win over Northwestern on November 2. The Hoosiers defensive unit did its part in the win, keeping the Wildcats to just 112 passing yards and 87 rushing yards. On the offensive side of the ball, the Hoosiers completed 17-of-25 passes for 270 yards and one touchdown. Michael Penix Jr. went 10-for-15 for 162 yards while Peyton Ramsey completed seven-of-10 for 108 yards and one touchdown. Stevie Scott III (116 yards on 26 rush attempts, two TDs) led the ground attack while Nick Westbrook (five receptions, 59 yards) and Ty Fryfogle (four catches, 49 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Penn State just lost a 31-26 game to Minnesota. Sean Clifford completed 23-of-43 passes for 340 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Journey Brown (124 yards on 14 rush attempts, two TDs) and the signal-caller Clifford (39 yards on 10 carries) led the running game as KJ Hamler (seven receptions, 119 yards) and Pat Freiermuth (seven catches, 101 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Indiana has run the ball on 49.1 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Penn State has a rush percentage of 54.3 percent. The Hoosiers have run for 138.4 yards per game (including 134.3 per game against Big Ten opponents) and have 16 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Nittany Lions are logging 171 rush yards per game (160.5 in conference) and have 21 total rushing TDs.
If the results so far this season can translate to this game, then it appears the Nittany Lions might hold an edge in terms of RB efficiency, since their running backs has generated 4.6 yards per carry while their defense has allowed a YPC of 2.1 to opponents. The Hoosiers have recorded 3.9 yards per carry while allowing 3.8 YPC to opponents.
The Hoosiers offensive scheme has tallied 308 yards per contest in the air overall (292.2 per game against conference opposition) and has 20 passing scores so far. The Nittany Lions have recorded 261.8 pass yards per game (252 in the Big 10) and have 22 total pass TDs.
Indiana should possess an edge when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 133.9 yards and throw for 176.3 yards per game. The Penn State defense has allowed 225.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 74.2 yards per game on the ground. The Nittany Lions are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.65 to opponents, while the Hoosiers have given up a 5.65 ANY/A.
Clifford has completed 139-of-227 passes for 2,082 yards, 17 TDs and five INTs. Clifford’s adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 8.81 for the year and 5.39 across his past two outings. In the other locker room, Peyton Ramsey is up to 951 passing yards on the year, and has connected on 86-of-117 attempts with seven passing touchdowns and only two interceptions. Ramsey’s got a 7.62 ANY/A, including 8.43 over the last two games.
These two squads met a year ago with the final outcome being a 33-28 victory for Penn State.
Indiana Hoosiers at Penn State Nittany Lions NCAA Tip
SU Winner: Indiana, ATS Winner: Indiana, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The Penn State defense has produced 31 sacks on the year while Indiana has just 19.
- The Penn State offense has lost four fumbles in 2019 while the Indiana offense has lost three.
- The Hoosiers offense has produced eight pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Nittany Lions have put up 11 such plays.
- The Indiana defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Penn State has given up six such plays.
- The Indiana offense has created nine rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Penn State has created 12 such runs.
- The Hoosiers defense has allowed seven rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Nittany Lions have given up five such runs.
- The O/U for Penn State’s previous game was set at 49. The over cashed in the 31-26 loss to Minnesota.
- Over its last three games, Penn State is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- In its last three contests, Indiana is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Indiana’s last game was set at 44.5. The under cashed in the team’s 34-3 victory over Northwestern.
- Indiana has averaged 3.8 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.0 over its last two.
- Penn State has averaged 4.1 yards per carry over its last three games and 4.4 over its last two.
