Iowa @ Penn State preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 2, 2010 ) Penn State 3, Iowa 24

THE STORY: Penn State coach Joe Paterno has plenty of questions surrounding his team and he’ll get some answers this weekend - like it or not - when the Nittany Lions host Iowa. The Hawkeyes and their solid brand of two-way football have been a thorn in the paw of the Lions in past seasons, winning eight of the last nine meetings, including a 24-3 victory last season.

TV: ESPN or ABC and ESPN3.com. LINE: Penn State -4

ABOUT IOWA (3-1, 0-0 Big Ten): The Hawkeyes’ burgeoning offense had two weeks to prepare for their Big Ten opener after defeating Louisiana-Monroe 45-17 on Sept. 24. Junior quarterback James Vandenberg is second in the Big Ten in passing, averaging 273.8 yards per game with 10 touchdowns and one interception. He will look wide receiver Marvin McNutt’s way against a stout Penn State secondary. McNutt has 413 yards receiving and four touchdowns, including two against Monroe. Also scoring twice against the Warhawks was running back Marcus Coker, who needed the off week to nurse some lingering injuries. Coker has rushed for 380 yards and four touchdowns.

ABOUT PENN STATE (4-1, 1-0): Injuries and the lack of a true No. 1 quarterback have stunted the Nittany Lions’ growth to start the season. The roster has been bitten hard by the injury bug, losing two key defensive cogs in cornerback D'Anton Lynn and linebacker Michael Mauti, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last week. On the other side of the ball, it looks like quarterback Matt McGloin leads the race for the starting job, but without a real passing threat, Penn State stud running back Silas Redd might as well be running in cement. The Nittany Lions managed only 54 yards on the ground against Iowa last season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Iowa leads the all-time series 12-11, but is only 3-6 on the road in its Big Ten opener under coach Kirk Ferentz.

2. Penn State has struggled inside the red zone with a 73.68 scoring percentage, 96th in the country. The Nittany Lions had two turnovers and three field goals in their five trips inside the red zone against Illinois. Iowa is 15th in red-zone defense (70.59 percent).

3. Iowa has 67 interceptions since 2008. Penn State heads into the weekend with 38 passes intercepted in that same span and led the conference in picks thrown (17) last year.

PREDICTION: Iowa 28, Penn State 21 - A banged up Penn State defense will only be able to slow down Iowa’s offense for so long.