Last Updated on September 28, 2010 11:05 pm by Anthony Rome
Penn State vs. Iowa Preview
Iowa City, IA – Iowa bounced back from a painful non-conference loss with an easy victory last week, while Penn State had its hands full for four quarters against an opponent it has traditionally dominated.
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When it comes to facing the Hawkeyes, the Nittany Lions know all too well what it’s like to consistently feel inferior.
Seventeenth-ranked Iowa’s seven wins in eight games against No. 22 Penn State include major upsets the past two seasons, but Kirk Ferentz’s team will be a substantial favorite heading into Saturday night’s Big Ten opener at Kinnick Stadium.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made Iowa –7 point spread favorites for Saturday’s game against Penn State. Current NCAA Public Betting Information shows that 76% of more than 1,867 bets for this game have been placed on Iowa -7.
The Nittany Lions (3-1) were a top 5 team in each of their last two meetings with the Hawkeyes (3-1), but left with their first loss both times.
Iowa kicked a 31-yard field goal with one second left to knock off Joe Paterno’s then-third-ranked team 24-23 on Nov. 8, 2008, in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes also bounced back from an early 10-point deficit to top the then-No. 5 Nittany Lions 21-10 last Sept. 26 in Happy Valley.
Often in an underdog role, Ferentz’s teams are 7-1 against Paterno’s since the start of the 2000 season. Iowa is favored to knock off the Nittany Lions this time, though its coach isn’t certain that should be the case.
“I’m not sure why they’d be considered the underdog,” Ferentz said. “I’m looking at a team that’s won 51 games over five years, one that doesn’t give up points.”
Each team begins conference play with a loss after entering last season’s meeting 3-0. While Penn State’s 24-3 defeat at national champion Alabama on Sept. 11 wasn’t hard to see coming, Iowa’s 34-27 loss at then-No. 24 Arizona on Sept. 18 was a bit surprising.
The Hawkeyes didn’t let it linger last Saturday. Ricky Stanzi threw three touchdown passes in the second and third quarters as Iowa rebounded from a sloppy first quarter to throttle Ball State 45-0.
“We knew last week we had a bump in the road, but we didn’t want to let Arizona beat us twice,” tailback Adam Robinson said after his third 100-yard game of the season. “We didn’t want to dwell on the loss. We wanted to move on and respond.”
Penn State didn’t have much trouble in a 24-0 win over Kent State on Sept. 18, but had to work harder to lock up its 28th consecutive victory over Temple on Saturday. The Nittany Lions trailed 13-9 at halftime against the visiting Owls before dominating defensively in the second half en route to a 22-13 win.
“When we play in the Big Ten, every game is going to be like this,” receiver Brett Brackett said. “It was really something we can learn from that we can hang in those situations, and it’s something that we can improve upon.”
Bolden’s inexperience and a stalled running game slowed Penn State’s offense in the early going, but Evan Royster may have sparked a turnaround Saturday. After totaling 110 yards on 31 carries in the first three games, Royster had 187 yards against Temple.
“Joe said I needed to get those extra yards,” Royster said after becoming just the fifth Nittany Lions back to rush for 3,000 yards. “I came into the game thinking, ‘You know, he’s right. I should be getting those extra yards.’ That’s what I’m here for.”
Royster has been held to 3.7 yards per carry the last two seasons against Iowa.
Finding holes could be even more difficult Saturday against a Hawkeyes defense that’s third in the nation against the run at 65.5 yards per game and first overall at 227.5. Iowa has done it the past few weeks without coordinator Norm Parker, who has been hospitalized because of complications with diabetes.
“We’re not perfect. Going back to the Arizona game, there’s plays there that got us beat,” safety Tyler Sash said. “Stats really don’t mean anything if you don’t get the win.”
Perhaps no Iowa defender is more feared than senior end Adrian Clayborn, who Penn State knows all too well. The Lombardi Award candidate blocked and returned a punt for a touchdown in last season’s win, and could be even more disruptive against an offensive line that lost right tackle Lou Eliades last week to a season-ending knee injury.
“He’s about as good as anyone there is,” Paterno said of Clayborn.
The Hawkeyes have forced 14 turnovers in the series’ last four games.
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