ESPN analytics predicts Penn State's chance of beating Rutgers

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If Penn State was going to put in a situation where it absolutely needs to win a game to keep its season alive, then it seems the Nittany Lions are getting as favorable a matchup as it could have asked for from its Big Ten schedule. Penn State heads to New Jersey this weekend to take on Rutgers in a game both teams need to win in order to become bowl eligible. But the metrics are clearly favoring the Nittany Lions this week after Penn State snapped its losing streak and picked up back-to-back wins.

ESPN's matchup predictor from ESPN Analytics is giving Penn State a decisive 82.9% chance of winning on the road this week. That number should not be surprising given the differences in the rosters and the all-time history of this series. Penn State's defense and running game have played well the past couple of weeks and Penn State appears to be rallying behind interim head coach Terry Smith in his push to be named the permanent head coach of the program. A win this weekend to clinch bowl eligibility would be a feather in Smith's cap as Penn State's search for a replacement for James Franklin continues.

Penn State will be dealing with some of the Big Ten's stat leaders on offense, however. Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis is third in the Big Ten in passing yardage with 2,786 yards and 17 touchdowns thrown. KJ Duff is the Big Ten's second-leading receiver with 957 receiving yards on 55 receptions, and Ian Strong is 8th in the Big Ten with 725 receiving yards. And running back Antwan Raymond is third in the Big Ten and one of the conference's three 1,000-yard rushers with 1,052 yards and 12 touchdowns. Penn State's Kaytron Allen is second in the Big Ten in rushing with 1,077 yards and 14 TDs (Nebraska's Emmett Johnson leads the Big Ten with 1,234 yards).

Penn State opened this week as a 10.5-point favorite according to the early week college football odds from BetMGM.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: ESPN analytics predict Penn State's outlook vs. Rutgers

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