Offensive line vs. defensive line
All of a sudden, Penn State’s offensive line doesn’t look half bad. The youngsters are more experienced. Veteran Miles Dieffenbach is back at left guard, and they cleared gaping holes for the running game last week against Temple. The Illinois defense has been gashed by opposing running games, ranking 121st out of 125 teams in the nation. NT Austin Teitsma is a good player, and PSU has made mediocre D-lines look great. But the Illini have no dynamic players up front. EDGE: Penn State
QB/receivers vs. secondary
Typically, teams benefit in one area on defense statistically when another struggles, but Illinois ranks 103rd in pass efficiency, clearly not benefitting from teams pounding the ball against them. CB V’Angelo Bentley and FS Taylor Barton have split the only two INTs the secondary has. PSU wants to get QB Christian Hackenberg going again, and this may be a good week to get him reacquainted with Eugene Lewis as a deep threat. EDGE: Penn State
Running backs vs. linebackers
In a not-so-surprising storyline, when Bill Belton and Akeel Lynch had holes to run through last week, they looked like star backs. They combined for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 37 carries and dominated the second half. Illinois’ strength defensively is at the linebacker position, led by veteran Mason Monheim, the Big Ten’s second-leading tackler. But both MLB T.J. Neal and converted safety Earnest Thomas have big-play potential. EDGE: Penn State
When ILLINOIShas the ball
Offensive line vs. defensive line
Illinois’ offensive line has been almost as bad, on the whole, as Penn State’s. It is clearing the way for just 1.3 more rushing yards per game, and their quarterbacks have been sacked 29 times. This is about as bad a matchup as you can get for a younger group, with the hard-charging Nittany Lions defensive line playing well all around. EDGE: Penn State
QB/receivers vs. secondary
Illinois got its fine starter, Wes Lunt, back last week after missing three games because of injury, but he struggled against Iowa. Still, the Illini are second in the conference in passing yardage (225.6 per game). True freshman Mike Dudek is a big-play threat, averaging 15.4 yards per catch, and he and Geronimo Allison each have 5 TDs. This could be a tricky matchup for Penn State, with three true freshmen — CBs Christian Campbell and Grant Haley and FS Marcus Allen — likely to see plenty of playing time. EDGE: Penn State
Running backs vs. linebackers
Like PSU, the Illini have a pair of good backs in starter Josh Ferguson and backup Donovonn Young. But the line hasn’t given them much of a chance to put big games together. Ferguson has 6 TDs and a 4.9 yards per carry average, but his biggest impact has been as a receiver (39 catches). PSU’s linebackers, with OLBs Nyeem Wartman and Brandon Bell exceptional in coverage, have taken that type of threat away all season. EDGE: Penn State
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicking game
Somehow, Illinois hasn’t made a field goal since Sept. 20, and they don’t have a kicker who has made more than one field goal this season. Illini punter Justin DuVernois is one of the conference’s best, and he could be a big factor in the field position battle. But PSU’s coverage team has been stellar, and punter Danny Pasquariello has improved. Kicker Sam Ficken is a big advantage. EDGE: Penn State
Return game
The Nittany Lions haven’t been aggressive on returns all season, and it likely isn’t about to change. V’Angelo Bentley is a good enough returner to at least create a threat to shift field position, or even take in a score, for the Illini. EDGE: Illinois
— DONNIE COLLINS