Here is how No. 15 Harvard and No. 17 Penn figure to match up tomorrow at Franklin Field:
Penn passing game vs. Harvard pass defense
This matchup, of course, depends on the status of Penn quarterback Pat McDermott, who injured his non-throwing shoulder and did not practice Monday or Tuesday.
No matter how healthy he is, McDermott will be tested by a tough Crimson secondary. Harvard leads the Ancient Eight and is seventh in the nation in passing efficiency defense.
Opponents are only completing 47.4 percent of their passes against Harvard this season. The Crimson also lead the Ancient Eight with 11 interceptions.
Harvard's pass defense is ranked third in the Ivy League, giving up 183.5 yards in the air per game.
Crimson defensive back Sean Tracy leads the Ancient Eight in interceptions (3).
Penn wide receiver Dan Castles, currently 15th in the nation with 97.5 receiving yards per game, will have to step up to make it easier on whoever is playing quarterback for Penn.
The 6-foot-3 Castles should match up well against Harvard's cornerbacks, who are relatively inexperienced. However, the Crimson's top cornerback, Keith Howell, is 6-feet tall, which is very tall for an Ivy defensive back.
Penn's passing offense is tops in the Ivy League, averaging 250.5 yards in the air per game. Assuming McDermott plays, Penn should continue to be successful in the air.
ADVANTAGE: Pick 'em
Harvard passing game vs. Penn pass defense
Crimson quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn't throw the ball that often, but when he does he is the most efficient passer in the Ancient Eight.
In receivers Corey Mazza and Brian Edwards, Fitzpatrick has two dangerous targets to throw to, as one of the two has a receiving touchdown in every game since the season opener.
Penn's passing defense is middle of the pack in the Ivy League, giving up 157.6 yards per game in the air.
ADVANTAGE: Harvard
Penn rushing game vs. Harvard run defense
Quakers running back Sam Mathews has struggled lately, as defenses have concentrated on stopping the Penn run. The Pittsburgh native has been held under 100 yards in four of his last five games.
Harvard's defense will come in trying to do the same thing, especially now that McDermott could be a liability for the Quakers.
The Crimson, however, have struggled at stopping the run all season. Brown ran for 250 yards against Harvard, while Lafayette tallied 203 yards.
Mathews has been able to step up in big games this season, and, considering McDermott's health, he will need to this weekend.
ADVANTAGE: Penn
Harvard rushing game vs. Penn run defense
This should have been the matchup of the game, as Penn's vaunted rush defense takes on the league's best rusher, Harvard's Clifton Dawson.
But the Quakers have struggled at stopping the run lately. They have given up over 150 yards on the ground in their last three games and over 190 yards in their last two games.
In those three games, Penn has yet to face a running back with the skill of Dawson. The Northwestern transfer is fourth in the nation with 127.8 yards per game.
Dawson should have an "average" day, meaning he will run all over the Quakers.
ADVANTAGE: Harvard
Kicking
This has been the biggest sore spot for the Quakers. Penn has missed more field goals this season than the Crimson has made.
Harvard's kicking game, on the other hand, has thrived thanks to freshman Matt Schindel. The native Floridian has made 12 of 16 field-goal attempts this season.
The one thing he has yet to prove, however, is his range. Schindel has yet to attempt a kick over 40 yards this season.
ADVANTAGE: Harvard
Punting
Penn's Josh Appell is the best in the Ivy League, with 36.17 net yards per punt. Harvard's Mike King is second best in the Ancient Eight, averaging 33.89 net yards per punt.
While the numbers are almost identical, Appell has the advantage of having played in the last Penn-Harvard game at Franklin Field.
In Penn's 44-9 victory two years ago, Appell may have been the star of the game, pinning the Crimson deep on several occasions.
ADVANTAGE: Penn
Kick/Punt return
In Brian Edwards, Harvard has the most dangerous return man in the Ivy League. He has returned three kicks for touchdowns this season, two punts and one kickoff.
Edwards leads the league in average kickoff return (29.3 yards). This is the fifth-best average in the nation.
The Quakers have yet to return any kicks for touchdowns this season.
Penn might be smart to bust out the old squib kick tomorrow.
ADVANTAGE: Harvard
Coaches
Penn's Al Bagnoli has historically dominated this matchup, winning eight of his 10 games all-time against Harvard's Tim Murphy.
Bagnoli has won six Ivy League titles in his tenure in West Philadelphia, while Murphy has won just two.
In 2002, Bagnoli was able to defeat a senior-laden Harvard squad with a relatively young Penn team. There's no reason to think he can't do it again.
ADVANTAGE: Penn
Intangibles
It helps Penn to play this game at home. After all, the Quakers have not lost an Ivy League game at Franklin Field since Nov. 20, 1999.
Students and alumni should come out in droves for this one, raining the Crimson with taunts and toast.
Penn also hasn't lost an Ancient Eight game since Nov. 10, 2001 -- a record 20-game league win streak. While Bagnoli says that the team pays no attention to this fact, nobody wants to be known as the team that broke the streak.
Penn players also don't want to be known as the first Quakers team since 2001 to lose the Ivy League title.
Harvard, on the other hand, is confident and hungry for a title.
The Crimson are coming off a 38-0 drubbing of Columbia and will look for a repeat performance against the Quakers.
ADVANTAGE: Penn
