IU set to defy odds, PSU

When IU and Penn State square off Saturday at Beaver Stadium, two teams with identical 2-8 records will meet.\nWhile records indicate a competitive match-up, oddsmakers have placed PSU as a 19-point favorite over the Hoosiers, according to sportsinteraction.com.\nJunior wide receiver Courtney Roby, who moved into fifth on IU's all-time receiving yardage last Saturday, said the team is focused on the task at hand.\n"We don't think about that," Roby said. "They can put caps on the game if they want to. It just all boils down to who wants it more. We're just going to go out there and play. We're not going to pay attention to who's the underdog."\nJudging by past history of the PSU-IU series, the oddsmakers might not be too far off. PSU owns an 8-0 lead in the series and routed the Hoosiers 58-25 last season at Memorial Stadium when Nittany Lion running back Larry Johnson raced for 327 yards.\nA year later, much has changed at Penn State. The Lions are winless in the Big Ten this season. PSU has ensured itself of its third losing season in the past four.\nTheir legendary coach, Joe Paterno, has come under fire in his 38th season. Web sites have emerged promoting Paterno's firing, including joepamustgo.com.\nIU coach Gerry DiNardo said Paterno has earned the respect to leave whenever he wants to, comparing him with former Notre Dame and Michigan coaches.\n"You have people who admire what he has done at Penn State, and I would include myself in that group," DiNardo said. "To me, it is important that when he does decide to leave, it is in the style and grace he has always had, much like when Ara Parsegian and Bo Schembechler left."\nOffensive grace has been in short supply for both clubs. IU ranks 10th in the conference in total offense with PSU ranking 11th.\nDefensively, PSU gains an advantage. The Lions rank sixth in the conference, with IU last in total defense.\nThe Hoosier defense did show improvement in last week's win over Illinois. IU will look to carry over a strong fourth quarter when University of Illinois was held without a first down on its last four possessions.\nSenior safety Joe Gonzalez is concerned the team might dwell on the win too long.\n"The tough part is to move on from (the win)," Gonzalez said. "That game's over. The challenge now is to get this team, that hasn't had as much success as we'd like, to not have confusion on how to deal with the win. That win doesn't mean anything anymore. It's going to mean a lot to this program if we can build on it."\nThe oddsmakers don't think the Hoosiers can.\nGonzalez hopes an upset is in order.\n"I hope we'll make people lose a lot of money this weekend," Gonzalez said.\n-- Contact staff writer John Rodgers at jprodger@indiana.edu.