Joe Paterno isn’t a big fan of bye weeks, and with good reason, especially, this year.

Penn State might be the Big Ten’s most surprising story line going into the last month of the conference schedule with a two-game lead in the loss column in the Leaders Division over Purdue, surging Ohio State and reeling Wisconsin.

While the Legends Division has a three-way logjam of one-loss teams at the top with Nebraska, Michigan and Michigan State, the Nittany Lions (5-0 Big Ten) control their own destiny to get to the inaugural league title game as the last squad unbeaten in conference play.

“I don’t particularly like bye weeks at any time because I think you get out of the routine,” Paterno said Tuesday. “I guess if you have to have it, this is as good a time as any to have it.”

Lately, that routine involves winning — seven straight victories since a 27-11 loss in week 2 to No. 2 Alabama.

Success hasn’t been pretty, though, in Happy Valley.

The passing game very much remains a work in progress, and the offense overall is scoring 21.8 points a game. Only Minnesota is worse in the Big Ten at 18 points.

Penn State is squeaking by opponents, like the 10-7 win last week over Illinois. The Nittany Lions needed a touchdown run by Silas Redd to take the lead with 1:08 left, but couldn’t breathe easy until Illini kicker Derek Dimke’s 42-yard field-goal attempt bounced off the right upright as time expired.

“We were very fortunate against Illinois,” Paterno said. “That darn ball bounced off the goal post when it could have bounced any other way and it would have been overtime.”

Another typically tight Penn State victory — six wins have come by 10 points or less this year. They will be tested with a three-game gauntlet to end the regular season, starting with the home finale Nov. 12 against the Cornhuskers.