Penn State football a heavy favorite as the Nittany Lions play host to the Michigan State Spartans on Senior Day at Beaver Stadium Saturday.
Penn State football enters Saturday’s game against Michigan State riding a two game winning streak after defeating Rutgers last week 23-6. The Spartans are limping into Happy Valley after a 40 point loss to the Buckeyes and a banged up starting quarterback in junior Rocky Lombadi.
The Nittany Lions are starting to look like the team many expected to see in 2020, riding a strong running game and stout defense to to their last two victories.
Penn State is a 14.5 point favorite over the Spartans Saturday, but as Penn State fans know, this Michigan State squad has had a knack for upending the Nittany Lions when we least expect it.
The Big Ten slate took a hit when “The Game” between Ohio State and Michigan, and the “Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket” featuring Indiana and Purdue, the two biggest rivalry games of the weekend were canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. Even still, we have some good matchups including a big game in the Big Ten West.
After picking against Penn State football for the first time all season last week, we went 1-2 in week 7 and are in need of a bounce back week.
Last Week: 1-2
Record to Date: 11-12
Penn State -14.5 vs Michigan State
Penn State football has won and covered in their past two games and it looks like this is a team that may be starting to turn the corner.
Defensive coordinator Brent Pry met with the media this week and mentioned that the defense is starting to look like its old self, while the running game is finding its stride as well.
Michigan State has had an up and down season, pulling off both their victories as big underdogs, however this is a bad football team. The Spartans average a conference worst 17 points per game and with a cloudy quarterback situation it is hard to see how MSU moves the ball on this Penn State defense.
If the Nittany Lions can keep Spartans wide receiver Jailen Nailor from getting behind them and not give up the big play, this offense struggles to put together consistent drives. The Spartans only average 95 yards per game due largely in part to a struggling offensive line.
Defensively, the Spartans are allowing 34.5 points per game and have given up a remarkable 18 rushing touchdowns this season. That does not bode well against a Penn State team that has run the ball for 502 yards over the past two games. Look for young backs Keyvone Lee and Devyn Ford to get the ball early and often and should open up the passing game for Clifford and company to expose a defense that struggles to get pressure on the quarterback and is giving up 231 passing yards a game.
Penn State football should be motivated on Senior Day and will feast on a struggling Michigan State offensive line and suffocate the Spartans early. Penn State rolls, 27-7.