Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

FACTS & STATS: Beaver Stadium (107,282) -- University Park, Pennsylvania. Television: ABC. Home Record: Iowa 3-0, Penn State 2-1. Away Record: Iowa 0-1, Penn State 2-0. Neutral Record: Iowa 0-0, Penn State 0-0. Conference Record: Iowa 0-0, Penn State 1-0. Series Record: Iowa leads, 12-11.

GAME NOTES: Iowa will open its Big Ten season this weekend when it travels to meet the Penn State Nittany Lions, who are coming off a 16-10 league win over Indiana last weekend.

Iowa, which was idle last weekend following a win over ULM on September 24th, has won 10 of its last 15 away from home. The Hawkeyes have won two straight since a 44-41 setback to rival Iowa State on September 10th, including a 31-27 win over Pittsburgh that featured the largest comeback in school history. Following its road trip to Penn State, Iowa will play four of five at home, and the next three matchups are with Northwestern, Indiana and Minnesota.

Penn State has won three straight since falling to Alabama on September 10th, including last weekend's gritty victory over Indiana. The Nittany Lions improved to 15-0 all-time against the Hoosiers with the win, and won a Big Ten road opener for the first time since 2005. Penn State is boasting one of the best defenses in the country, as Indiana became the fourth team to score 10 points or less in five Nittany Lions' games this season. That hasn't happened since 1996. Penn State will play four of its next five at home beginning this weekend.

Iowa leads the all-time series with Penn State, 12-11, including last season's 24-3 win at Kinnick Stadium.

Quarterback James Vandenberg has been instrumental in the Hawkeyes' 3-1 start, as he is completing 62.8 percent of his passes with just one interception, throwing for 1,095 yards and 10 touchdowns. Iowa has a pair of really productive receivers in Marvin McNutt Jr. and Keenan Davis, with McNutt Jr. averaging 103.2 yards per game receiving to go along with his four touchdown catches, while Davis has caught 19 balls for 286 yards and three touchdowns in four games. The Iowa running game is accounting for 140.5 yards per game (Iowa averages 421.8 in total offense), and running back Marcus Coker averages 95 yards rushing per game. Coker gets 4.4 yards per carry, and has four touchdown runs so far in 2011.

The Iowa defense is allowing 23.8 points per game, and 385.8 yards of total offense. The Hawkeyes have played well against the run, where they are allowing 132.5 yards per game at a clip of just 3.2 yards per carry. Iowa shut ULM's rushing attack down in its last appearance, allowing just 59 yards rushing and just one run that went for six yards or more. Iowa is currently ranked 15th nationally in red zone defense, (.710) and its eight takeways give the Hawkeyes a plus-four in the turnover margin, which is tied for 16th nationally. Notable individual performers through the first four games are linebacker James Morris, who averages 10 tackles per game, and defensive back Micah Hyde, who has recorded two interceptions.

Penn State continued to use the two-quarterback system last weekend in its win over Indiana, as Matt McGloin completed 10-of-22 passes for 204 yards with one touchdown, while Rob Bolden hit 6-of-14 passes for 67 yards. On the year, McGloin has completed 57.9 percent of his passes (44-of-76) for 625 yards and four touchdowns, while Bolden is completing 45.9 percent (39-of-85) with four interceptions and one touchdown. The top receiver has been Derek Moye, who has 26 catches for 443 yards and three scores. The offense is posting 370 yards per game, with an average of 148.2 coming on the ground. Silas Redd has been the primary workhorse for the rushing attack, averaging 86.4 yards per game at a clip of 4.7 per carry with four touchdowns. Penn State has committed 10 turnovers through five games, including three last weekend at Indiana.

The Penn State defense suffered a huge blow after losing linebacker Michael Mauti for the season to a torn ACL against Eastern Michigan two weeks ago. The Nittany Lions still rank fifth nationally in total defense, allowing just 250.4 yards per game (95 yards rushing per game, 2.7 yards per carry.) The unit also ranks sixth in pass defense with 155.4 yards allowed per game, and is giving up just 12 points per contest, which is good for seventh nationally. Led behind three forced fumbles by Sean Stanley and two interceptions from Chaz Powell, Penn State has created 11 turnovers in five contests after forcing just 17 takeaways in 2010. Moreover, this has been a disruptive unit in the oppositions' backfield with 39 tackles for loss. Gerald Hodges leads the team with 31 tackles, including 2.5 stops for loss. Defensive tackle Devon Still is tied for the Big Ten lead with seven tackles for loss, while fellow tackle Jordan Hill has added five tackles for loss and is third on the team with 25 tackles.

Iowa played really well against Pitt's star running back Ray Graham three weeks ago, holding him under 100 yards rushing and forcing Tino Sunseri to win the game for the Panthers. He couldn't. No matter which Penn State quarterback is running the show, the real war of attrition will come up front, and expect the Nittany Lions to give the Hawkeyes a heavy dose of Redd. On the other side, Penn State's defense will be too much. This could be a classic Big Ten slugfest, and Penn State should be able to secure a close win at home.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Penn State 20, Iowa 17