Masse’s PSU-Iowa game breakdown
Chris Masse analyzes the matchups at Iowa
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Penn State
Offense: The sad ending to Drew Allar's collegiate career provides a lesson. Players should take the NFL money and run while they can.
Allar went from a likely Top 10 pick to now wondering if he will get a shot at all. Ethan Grunkemeyer steps in, so PSU should stop trying to be cute and just go old school and be run heavy.
Defense: As bad as the offense has been the last three weeks, the defense has been worse. Jim Knowles looks like a worse investment than a mayonnaise stand in the Sahara. This unit repeatedly fails to get stops at crucial times and has squandered repeated shots at victory. Lions have been especially putrid on third and fourth downs and have forced just one turnover in their losses.
Special teams: Ryan Barker has still missed just one kick in six games when a field goal was blocked. Gabriel Nwosu spotted his punts well against Northwestern, placing two of his three inside the 20-yard line. Lions are not getting much of a boost in the return game since the opener, although Corey Smith did have a 34-yard kick return last week.
Coaching/intangibles: This season officially is a disaster. I despise the way ESPN makes anything happening at this moment the best or worst ever, but the truth is these last two weeks have been the most embarrassing on- the-field moments in program history. Franklin lost the team (and his job) and PSU is the first team in 47 years to lose consecutive games when favored by 20 or more. Terry Smith gets interim shot.
Iowa
Offense: Iowa often features an offense as exciting as studying 19th century European literature. The Hawkeyes are near the bottom of Big Ten in yards per game but have scored 34 or more points four times, so they have been efficient despite no runner having more than 300 yards. Iowa shared the wealth against Wisconsin, the offensive line helping it produce 5.8 yards per carry.
Defense: Here often is Iowa's bread and butter, and Iowa wiped out Wisconsin, allowing just 209 yards and forcing three turnovers. The Hawkeyes have not allowed more than 20 points in a game and held Indiana to its lowest point total. Iowa has not forced many turnovers, intercepting just two passes, but surrender just 247 yards per game and are fundamentally-sound.
Special teams: Drew Stevens is one of the country's premier kickers, going 7-of-10 beyond 50 yards the past two seasons. He has 63 career field goals and has made at least one from 53 yards in each of the past four seasons. Punter Rhys Dakin has struggled the last two weeks but still is averaging 45.2 yards per kick, placing five of 13 inside the 20. Keep an eye on punt returner Kaden Wetjen.
Coaching/intangibles: Kirk Ferentz is the dean of Big Ten coaches, now in his 26th season. He is the league's active leader in wins with a 208-126 record. Declining several NFL opportunities over the years, Ferentz has led Iowa to two Big Ten championships and three Big Ten West titles, as well as 21 bowl games. He also is a four-time coach of the year and guided Iowa to its best win this season a week ago.
Masse’s prediction record: 4-2
Prediction: Even when times are good, Iowa has given Penn State fits at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes are a few plays from being undefeated, and the defense is coming on strong. When PSU was 3-0, this was a game many thought could trip it up. Who would ever guessed, though, it would be the underdog now? Iowa 23, PSU 16