By The Numbers: Minnesota

Here are the NCAA statistics for Minnesota and Penn State:

NCAA Stats Comparison
Category:	Penn St.	Minnesota
Rushing	32	99
Passing Offense	39	75
Total Offense	23	99
Scoring Offense	38	65
Rushing Defense	8	83
Turnovers Gained	59	26
Passes Had Intercepted	82	96
Pass Defense	26	62
Net Punting	65	13
Punt Returns	99	7
Kickoff Returns	119	12
Turnover Margin	76	61
Fumbles Recovered	90	8
Passes Intercepted	30	55
Fumbles Lost	59	59
Turnovers Lost	79	90
Passing Efficiency	41	79
Pass Efficiency Defense	18	55
Total Defense	8	77
Scoring Defense	6	60
Fewest Penalties Per Game	4	40
Fewest Yards Penalized Per Game	3	41
Punt Return Yardage Defense	113	14
Kickoff Return Yardage Defense	93	64
Offense Third-down Efficiency	3	68
Offense Fourth-down Efficiency	55	106
Defense Third-down Efficiency	25	112
Defense Fourth-down Efficiency	15	75
Tackles for Loss	4	57
Offense Tackles for Loss	4	52
Pass Sacks	7	50
Pass Sacks Allowed	26	93
Time of Possession	27	95
First Downs	13	111
First Downs Allowed	8	97
Red Zone Efficiency	70	36
Red Zone Efficiency - Defense	5	84
Average NCAA Rank:	39.78	64.22
Weighted Avg. Rank:	31.67	69.00

Penn State leads most if not all offensive and defensive categories. But Minnesota leads nearly if not all kicking and returning (special teams) categories. Penn State is favored by 15 points. The statistical edge is with the Lions.

In common opponents, both teams played Syracuse. Penn State won their match-up 28-7 while Syracuse took Minnesota to OT before losing 23-20. Edge PSU.

Records. Penn State has one loss to !*w@, ranked 11th. The Gophers lost to Cal and Wisconsin, neither of which is currently ranked. Edge PSU.

Looking Ahead: The Lions travel to Ann Arbor. Minnesota travels to Columbus. Push.

It is homecoming for Penn State. Edge PSU, even though the 1999 Minnesota game was also a homecoming game!