Northwestern at Penn State Week 5 College Football Matchup Northwestern at Penn State Matchup - Week 5
Sat, Oct 1 2022 · Week 5 · 🏟 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA · Turf · 106,572 cap
Northwestern✈ 516 mi+1 hr TZ
7 17
Final
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Northwestern
9
Penn State
41
P&R Line Penn State -32
P&R Total O/U 49
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Penn State -25.5 · O/U 50.0
Matchup Prediction
Penn State has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Penn State entering this game.
Momentum Control
78.1%
Penn State wins
Strong
Game Control
76%
Penn State wins
Strong
Vegas Spread
Penn State -25.5
O/U 50.0
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Penn State · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Penn State 2nd straight Home Game
Northwestern 2022 Schedule
Northwestern's 2022 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/27Northwestern vs Nebraska+12.0W31–2852.5W31–28OY
Sat 9/10Northwestern vs Duke-10.0L23–3156.5L23–31UN
Sat 9/17Northwestern vs Southern Illinois-13.5L24–3158.5L24–31UN
Sat 9/24Northwestern vs Miami (OH)-7.5L14–1750.0L14–17UN
Sat 10/1Northwestern at Penn State+25.5L7–1750.0L7–17UY
Sat 10/8Northwestern vs Wisconsin+10.0L7–4244.5L7–42ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/22Northwestern at Maryland+14.0L24–3151.0L24–31OY
Sat 10/29Northwestern at Iowa+11.5L13–3337.0L13–33ON
Sat 11/5Northwestern vs Ohio State+37.5L7–2155.0L7–21UY
Sat 11/12Northwestern at Minnesota+17.0L3–3140.5L3–31UN
Sat 11/19Northwestern at Purdue+17.5L9–1744.5L9–17UY
Sat 11/26Northwestern vs Illinois+15.0L3–4138.0L3–41ON
Penn State 2022 Schedule
Penn State's 2022 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Thu 9/1Penn State at Purdue-3.5W35–3153.5W35–31OY
Sat 9/10Penn State vs Ohio-28.0W46–1055.0W46–10OY
Sat 9/17Penn State at Auburn-2.5W41–1247.5W41–12OY
Sat 9/24Penn State vs Central Michigan-28.0W33–1461.5W33–14UN
Sat 10/1Penn State vs Northwestern-25.5W17–750.0W17–7UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/15Penn State at Michigan+7.0L17–4149.0L17–41ON
Sat 10/22Penn State vs Minnesota-5.5W45–1743.0W45–17OY
Sat 10/29Penn State vs Ohio State+15.5L31–4460.5L31–44OY
Sat 11/5Penn State at Indiana-13.5W45–1450.0W45–14OY
Sat 11/12Penn State vs Maryland-10.5W30–056.5W30–0UY
Sat 11/19Penn State at Rutgers-18.5W55–1045.0W55–10OY
Sat 11/26Penn State vs Michigan State-19.0W35–1654.5W35–16UN
Mon 1/2Penn State vs Utah-1.5W35–2155.5W35–21OY
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2022 season
Penn State PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Penn State
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Penn State
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Penn State
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Northwestern
+0.092
Penn State
+0.429
Penn State Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Northwestern
+0.207
Penn State
+0.557
Penn State Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Northwestern
0.125
Penn State
0.254
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Penn State Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Northwestern
+6.059
Penn State
+8.635
Penn State Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Northwestern
+0.756
Penn State
+0.884
Penn State Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Northwestern
73.1
Penn State
69.9
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Penn State Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2022 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Penn State Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Northwestern
-0.6
Penn State
8.8
Offense Rating
Northwestern
16.0
Penn State
19.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Northwestern
16.6
Penn State
10.2
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Penn State Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Northwestern #138
0.00
Penn State #7
2.00
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Northwestern #43
1.33
Penn State #27
0.25
Penn State +2.00
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 78.1% of games historically
Based on 4 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Penn State Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Northwestern #1
35.4
Penn State #1
75.3
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Northwestern #133
45.9
Penn State #8
11.1
Penn State +39.9
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 76% of games historically
Based on 4 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Penn State with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Northwestern
Pat Fitzgerald #1
109–89 (55%) · Yr 17 at school
OC Mike Bajakian Yr 2 #1
DC Jim O'Neil Yr 2 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Penn State
James Franklin #1
66–34 (66%) · Yr 9 at school
OC Mike Yurcich Yr 2 #1
DC Manny Diaz Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself