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Penn State Football prediction and Big Ten picks ATS

By Lawrence Santa Maria

Sep 27, 2019; College Park, MD, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) passes the ball as Maryland Terrapins linebacker Keandre Jones (4) defends in the third quarter at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2019; College Park, MD, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) passes the ball as Maryland Terrapins linebacker Keandre Jones (4) defends in the third quarter at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 31, 2020; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Connor Heyward (11) celebrates after scoring in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2020; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Connor Heyward (11) celebrates after scoring in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

“Michigan State +5.5 vs Iowa”

Sparty had a weird offseason after long time coach Mark Dantonio abruptly resigned, and then opened the season with a loss to Rutgers in a game in which they turned the ball over seven times.

Fast forward a week and they stun in-state rival Michigan as a three touchdown underdog in the Big House. We still really don’t know the identity of this Spartan squad, however I think this game  is more about Iowa.

The Hawkeyes returned only ten starters from both sides of the ball this season, including having to replace three year starter Nathan Stanley at quarterback. The Hawkeyes are 0-2 after dropping games to Purdue and Northwestern by a combined five points. Sophomore quarterback Spencer Petras has struggled, throwing only one touchdown to three interceptions. Most surprisingly, Iowa has struggled to get the run game going as well which is usually the bread and butter for a Kirk Ferentz led Hawkeye team.

This game has all the makings of a classic, ugly Big Ten battle and I just don’t think Iowa is good enough to be favored over anybody right now. They are searching for an identity, and I think week one may have been a bit of a fluke for the Spartans, they are not as bad as we thought.

The Pick: Michigan State +5.5

Next. Ranking Penn State's toughest remaining games. dark

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