Purdue has been more competitive under interim coach Gerad Parker and catches Penn State in a monster letdown spot.

The Nittany Lions are on the road after just upsetting previously undefeated Ohio State at home last Saturday. It's a double whammy for Penn State, which is 3-12 ATS after covering a game and 3-14-2 ATS in its last 19 away contests.

Penn State hasn't traveled in four weeks. This is only its third road game of the season. The Nittany Lions are 0-2 on the road giving up an average of 45 1/2 points to Pittsburgh and Michigan. Penn State is 0-7-1 ATS the past eight times it has been a road favorite and has lost straight-up seven straight times away from home under James Franklin.

Parker's first game as interim head coach was last week. Purdue was a 24-point road 'dog to then ninth-ranked and now seventh-ranked Nebraska. The Boilermakers played hard, led 14-10 at halftime and gave the Cornhuskers a scare before losing, 27-14. The Boilermakers have covered seven of the last eight times following a loss.

Purdue has some decent skill position talent that can take advantage of Penn State giving up an average of 4.7 yards per rush and 203 yards rushing a game. The Boilermakers have been weak defensively, but received a boost from 345-pound tackle Lorenzo Neal, who recorded three tackles behind the line of scrimmage versus the Cornhuskers. Parker should have Purdue playing hard again this week with the team still alive for a bowl berth.