Preview: Wisconsin at Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Traveling to Beaver Stadium for the first time since 2012, Wisconsin (6-3, 4-2) takes on Penn State (6-3, 3-3) on Saturday …

NUMBERS TO KNOW

.500: Both teams are 9-9 (.500) against one another.

.571: The Nittany Lions are 4-3 (.571) against the Badgers in Happy Calley.

.941: Wisconsin is 16-1 (.941) in the month of November over the last five seasons.

3: PSU has won the last three meetings in the series.

5.6: The last three games in the series have been decided by an average of 5.6 points.

WHAT TO WATCH

Can Wisconsin Make Coan's Job Easier?

Assuming Alex Hornibrook (head) does not start on Saturday, Wisconsin will turn to true sophomore Jack Coan at quarterback.

Coan is nearly 70 percent of his time with two touchdowns to no interceptions. However, Coan will be getting started in a hostile environment for the first time in his career.

What UW was unable to do in Coan's first road start at Northwestern, they could achieve against Penn State.

The Nittany Lions have been suspected against the run, particularly against pro-style offenses. Against the three top 30 rush offenses PSU has faced this season, they are allowing an average of 252.3 yards per game on the ground.

Look for Wisconsin to give Penn State a heavy dose of Jonathan Taylor, who has hit the 100-yard plateau in every game but one this season, including three 200-yard efforts.

Can the Badgers Avoid Negative Plays?

Also going a long way to help out Coan, keeping Penn State out of the backfield.

The Nittany Lions rank first in the Big Ten in sacks (3.2) and tackles for loss (7.4).

In their wins, PSU is averaging 4.1 sacks per game. In their three losses? 1.3.

"They're talented up front, they really are," offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph. "Individually, they're so different." "You're gotta prepare for the individuals at the matchups.

"They do a great job of mixing pressures and creating issues."

McSorley or Stevens?

The last time Wisconsin saw Trace McSorleyit did not go well.

The Badgers let 28-7 lead get away in the 2016 Big Ten Championship Game. McSorley threw for 384 yards and four touchdowns.

However, in 2018, Penn State has not had the scariest offense.

The Nittany Lions rank ninth in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (221.2). Among FBS quarterbacks, McSorley (13.47) ranks just ahead of Hornibrook in yards by completion (13.43).

"They're a big play team, a team that's very skilled." Across the board, "they have guys who can do a lot of things," said senior linebacker T.J. Edwards. "We need to play our best game.

"Starting out fast, especially at Penn State, a hostile environment, is going to be very big for us."

In last Saturday's loss to Michigan, McSorley was pulled in favor of backup Tommy Stevens. With McSorley (knee) a little banged up, UW could see more of Stevens on Saturday.

PREVIEW

There's a lot to like about this matchup for Wisconsin.

Penn State ranks 10th in the Big Ten in rush defense. The Nittany Lions have given up over 220 yards rushing against four of eight opponents.

Downhill run pitches such as Michigan and Pittsburgh both gave PSU fits. The Badgers enter with the nation's fourth best rushing offense, averaging 273.0 ypg.

PSU also needs to live in the backfield oppositions. UW has not allowed more than two sacks in a game since the season opener. In fact, they have limited their chances of becoming one of their last six outings. Wisconsin is also first in the country, giving up just 3.11 tackles for loss per game.

On top of that, McSorley might not be 100 percent. In his last five games, McSorley is completing 50.7 percent of his passes for just four touchdowns to three interceptions.

Wisconsin has done an adequate job keeping mobile in this pocket season. UW's secondary has been much better at stopping the big play, with the exception of the second half against Rutgers, while playing with a comfortable lead.

This game is a lot more to the Badgers, who are fighting for their Big Ten title hopes. Heck, James Franklin did not even tweet out "Wisconsin" 20 times as usual, to help his team and the fan base maintain a weekly focus.

The Badgers are 6-0 when they run for at least 205 yards and 0-3 when they do not. UW gets out to an early lead against PSU, who is reeling after a 42-7 loss to Michigan, and hangs on a key road win.

Wisconsin 27 Penn State 23