Rutgers @ Penn State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 17, 2018 ) Penn State 20, Rutgers 7

Penn State's chances of reaching the Big Ten title game - and potentially the College Football Playoff - were wiped out last week at Ohio State. The 12th-ranked Nittany Lions are still looking to secure a significant bowl berth and can take the final step in that process in their home finale against Rutgers on Saturday.

After falling behind 21-0 to the powerful Buckeyes, Penn State rallied to make things interesting before falling 28-17 last Saturday, its second loss in three games following an 8-0 start. "Yeah, I think the first thing is no, there are no moral victories," Nittany Lions coach James Franklin told reporters. "I mean, we've played that team as well or as good as anybody in the country but not well enough. There are no moral victories." For the Scarlet Knights there are no actual victories in Big Ten play for over two years as their league losing streak stretched to 20 in a row with a 27-0 setback against Michigan State last week. Rutgers' average margin of defeat in conference action this season is 35.4 points.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Penn State -40

ABOUT RUTGERS (2-9, 0-8 Big Ten): The Scarlet Knights entered the week 129th out of 130 FBS teams in total offense (263.1 yards per game) and scoring offense (13.9), and they managed 140 total yards in last week's shutout loss. Freshman Jonnny Langan completed 8-of-20 passes for 57 yards with one interception, his ninth in the past seven games. Sophomore Isaih Pacheco has 627 yards on the ground with seven touchdowns while fellow running back Raheem Blackshear has a team-high 29 catches.

ABOUT PENN STATE (9-2, 6-2): Freshman quarterback Will Levis sparked the Lions' comeback last week by engineering one touchdown drive and then finishing another with a 1-yard scoring run, and he is seeing the bulk of the first-team snaps in practice this week. Sophomore Sean Clifford, who left the contest at Ohio State with an apparent leg injury, will be a game-time decision against Rutgers. Both players will likely lean on sophomore running back Journey Brown, who has emerged from a committee in the backfield to produce 288 rushing yards and four touchdowns over his last three games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Nittany Lions WR Justin Shorter reportedly has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

2. Langan has 68 rushing attempts for 250 yards over his last four games.

3. Penn State won the past 12 meetings and has held Rutgers to a total of 16 points over the past four.

PREDICTION: Penn State 52, Rutgers 7