Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis said the Missouri offense he faced during the opening week is better than the Penn State offense that rolled over the Illini Saturday night.
"I'd say the Missouri offense 'cause they spread you out and throw it every play," Davis said.
"You know the throw is coming, you just gotta stop it. And they're gonna tell you, and if you don't stop it, they're gonna run the score up.
"Penn State you gotta be conservative, you gotta stop the run, and also you gotta play in coverage."
While the No. 6 Nittany Lions poured 38 points and 422 yards of offense on the Illini, No. 4 Missouri put a 52-spot on the scoreboard and 549 offensive yards on the stat sheet.
Both teams rank in the Top-10 nationally in both scoring and total offense. But it's the way each team has risen to offensive prominence that makes them equally difficult to defend.
Matt Zemek, a columnist for collegefootballnews.com, said the key to the Lions' run-based Spread HD offense is the talent to amass points in bunches.
"Penn State spreads the wealth, but Missouri offers the classic spread look," Zemek said. "The Tigers offer a lot more shotgun formations, even in short yardage, which JoePa and offensive coordinator Galen Hall aren't yet ready to embrace.
"Missouri is still the modern, updated, 21st century offense. Penn State simply has more athletic talent at its disposal."
The Lions boast the country's eighth-most prolific rushing offense (267.6 yards per game) and use it to free up the outside for their three senior wide receivers.
The Tigers, meanwhile, use their exterior speed in the passing game. Missouri is second in the country, averaging 404.3 yards per game through the air.
But the main difference, according to collegefootballnews.com's Pete Fiutak is the men directing the offenses.
Penn State's Daryll Clark has only registered five career starts and has amassed 1,027 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns versus two turnovers. But Missouri's Chase Daniel is one of the best signal callers in country.
So good, in fact, Fiutak said Daniel gives the Tigers the edge over Penn State even though the Lions have more talent spread throughout the offense.
"The Penn State O-line is better, the receivers overall are better -- even if Penn State doesn't have a Jeremy Maclin -- and the running backs are even," Fiutak said. "But Chase Daniel is a special player.
"He's a veteran who has the attack down cold. I'll take Daniel, and it's not even a thought."
A Heisman Trophy finalist last year, Daniel is a prime candidate again this season.
He's already passed for 1,412 yards in only four games (353 ypg) and 12 touchdowns. Daniel's completed 76 percent of his passes with only one interception and ranks in the Top-10 nationally in every major passing statistic.
Daniel has run a version of the spread offense since high school and reading coverages has become second nature.
He acts as an extension of the coaching staff on the field.
Zemek said Daniel's combination of intelligence, accuracy and athletic ability makes him a special player, adding Daniel is playing better than any quarterback in the country.
"Clark looks really, really good, but Daniel is, quite simply, a sniper of the first order," Zemek said.
"The young man just doesn't miss. Period. He is, without question, the Heisman leader after the first month of the season.
"With anyone other than Chase Daniel, Missouri's offense -- as currently structured -- wouldn't perform as well. But with No. 10 calling the shots, Gary Pinkel has the right guy."
But Zemek isn't ready to cast the Lion offense into the realm of historically bland Big Ten offenses.
While Penn State can almost always find explosive defensive talent, he said it takes a couple of seasons for a dynamic offense to arise in Happy Valley.
This year's is the result of three four-year starters at receiver, a starting offensive line returning intact, a trio of running backs who offer a balance of power and speed and a playmaker at quarterback.
"When Penn State does find that 'once every three or four years' assemblage of talent, they don't hide it under a shell. They use it," Zemek said. "Penn State's offense is not a typical Big Ten offense. The Nittany Lions in 2008 are better suited to win track meets than 17-14 grinders."
Fiutak took it a step further. He said although he loves Daniel and the Missouri offense is more potent, Penn State is more likely to win a title.
The difference, he said, is the margin for error. Penn State's offense is more suited for a championship run because Missouri revolves around Daniel.
Penn State, however, has enough playmakers to give the ball to that the Lions could survive an off day from any of its skill players.
"Penn State, because of the veteran receiving corps to balance out the running game," Fiutak said.
"I don't believe in Clark quite yet, but Penn State can get by if he has a bad game. If Daniel stinks, it's game over."
