The trap game.

That is what I have been hearing from most Penn State faithful this week as the Nittany Lions go on the road to Minnesota this afternoon (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS) where the Nittany Lions will need to come away with a win to stay on track for a College Football Playoff berth.

Penn State, again, found itself in a favorable position in this week’s CFP rankings, with the committee ranking it at No. 4. It’s safe to say that if the Nittany Lions are able to take care of business and finish 11-1 they should be firmly in the CFP field — and they should be hosting a playoff game.

Head coach James Franklin’s motto weekly is 1-0, and his commitment to that approach may never be as important than this week as PSU does head into a tricky road contest with a Minnesota team that most think is better than its 6-4 record indicates.

The Golden Gophers lost two tough games — a home opener to North Carolina 19-17 and a 27-24 loss in Ann Arbor to Michigan — where if the ball bounced their way, we could certainly be looking at an 8-2 team. However, Minnesota also has some head-scratching losses as well.

The Gophers were defeated by double digits at home against Iowa, 31-14, and two weeks ago they dropped a contest to Rutgers, which surprised many fans and media alike throughout the Big Ten. So, it’s tough to know what Minnesota team will show up later this afternoon.

Match-up wise there are a few areas where Penn State has a distinct advantage and if it’s able to execute in those areas, then it should be able to get out of Minneapolis with a convincing victory.

Let’s first go to the defensive side of the ball. The Nittany Lions defense should be able to dominate on the afternoon, as Minnesota statistically has one of the worst offenses in the country, ranking 113th. The Gophers have not been able to run the football at all. They rank 121st in the country in rushing offense, averaging 104.7 rushing yards per game, while the Penn State defense ranks fifth in the country, giving up just 98.6 rushing yards per game.

When you’re not able to run the football, then that usually correlates to having to depend heavily on the passing game — and that is exactly what I believe Penn State wants to happen.

If the Nittany Lions’ pass rushers can just pin their ears back, then it could be a tough day for Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer. Brosmer has had a solid season, throwing 14 touchdowns to just four interceptions, but he has yet to see a pass rush of Penn State’s caliber.

The Gophers also are giving nearly two sacks per game, which ranks 71st in the country. If the Nittany Lions are able to stop the run, and all signs point to that they should be able to do just that, then I don’t see Minnesota having much success on the day offensively.

On the other hand, Minnesota does have a good defense, as it ranks 11th in the country in total defense and 12th in scoring defense.

Penn State has been at its best this season when it’s been able to run the football. The Nittany Lions are 22nd in the country in rushing offense, averaging 200 rushing yards per game. The Gophers have been solid against the run, giving up almost 120 rushing yards per game, ranking them 34th in the nation.

In their four losses, however, the Gophers have given up an average of 170.8 rushing yards per game. Over the past two weeks, Penn State is averaging 250 rushing yards per game in wins over Washington and a bad Purdue team. Nick Singleton looks to be back at full health, and Kaytron Allen has done a good job of carrying the workload when needed.

The Nittany Lions should be able to run the football and if they’re able to, then they should be able to put points on the board.

Las Vegas has Penn State as an 11.5-point favorite.

A key factor in this game, as it is every week, will be the turnover battle. Minnesota has a knack for creating turnovers, as it ranks seventh in the country and first in the Big Ten with a plus-12 turnover margin. Protecting the football will be critical, especially in a tough road environment. A few turnovers by the Nittany Lions could give the Gophers the juice they need to pull off the upset.

I think this one — of course — will be close early, because it seems like PSU always gets off to slow starts in these types of games, but I think as the game goes on and the Nittany Lions settle in they will be able to pull away.

I think the defense is currently playing its best football of the season, and it will be able to give the offense good field position throughout the course of the game. It will also be able to create some momentum-swinging sacks and turnovers.

My pick is: Penn State 34, Minnesota 17.