Penn State Football vs Auburn: Who has the better team?

Special Teams

Despite losing do-it-all kicker Jordan Stout, Penn State has done well in the kicking department this season.

Barney Amor has stepped in nicely at punter. Amor has punted 11 times so far this year and is averaging 47.5 yards per punt. For kickoffs, the rotation of Gab Nwosu and Sander Sahaydak has been about as good as you could’ve hoped for considering the talent they’re replacing in Stout. Multiple touchbacks and no large returns through two games.

Place kicking was a bit of a struggle against Ohio. Kicker Jake Pinegar missed an extra point and a 42-yard field goal. Penn State cannot afford to miss those against Auburn.

In the return game, Nick Singleton is averaging 20.8 yards per kick return and Parker Washingtom is averaging 7.8 yards per punt return.

For Auburn, punter Oscar Chapman has only punted the ball four times this season, for an average of 39.8 yards per punt.

Anders Carlson handles both kickoffs and field goals for the Tigers. He has not allowed any significant returns and is perfect on nine extra point attempts and one field goal.

Auburn has not had many opportunities to return kicks, with only five returns so far this year. Speedy running back Jarquez Hunter is a threat to break one though. Keionte Scott has done well as a punter returner, averaging 14 yards per return on four attempts.

Penn State has a slight nod in the punting department, but it’s also too early to tell who has the better place kicker. Both teams have plenty of athletes in the return game.

Advantage: Push