Michigan State at Penn State Odds

Written by Steve Janus

This Saturday the No.10 Michigan State Spartans will look to secure at least a tie for the Big Ten title when they go on the road to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Spartans struggled at home against Purdue last week, but were able to come away with a 35-31 win. The Nittany Lions made easy work of Indiana in a 41-24 blowout, and have now won four of their last five after starting the season 3-3. The Nittany Lions have won two straight against the Spartans to end the regular season, including a 42-14 win last season, but the oddsmakers are giving Michigan State the slight advantage in this one, as the current college football odds have the Spartans favored by 2-points over the Nittany Lions.

Michigan State (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten): The Spartans can actually win the Big Ten with a win and a Michigan win over Ohio State, but will have to play better than they did last week against Purdue.The Spartans trailed 28-13 going into the final period of play, but exploded for 22 points to avoid the upset.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 276 yards and three touchdowns, and also scored what proved to be the game winning touchdown on a three yard run with just over four minutes to play. Edwin Baker finished with 90 yards rushing and a touchdown on 16 carries, but the Spartans had just 95 yards on the ground for the game.

The Spartans will likely need to get the running game going to pull out the win this week, as the Nittany Lions come in 24th in the country against the pass, allowing just 190 yards a game. Penn State has struggled against the run, allowing 165 yards a game, but the Spartans have rushed for over a 100 yards in just two of their last five games.

Penn State (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten): After a disappointing second half performance against Ohio State the previous week, the Nittany Lions left no doubt in their latest game against Indiana, as they poured on 24 second half points to cruise to an easy win.

Sophomore quarterback Matt McGloin really looked sharp in the win, throwing for a career-high 315 yards with two touchdowns on 22 of 31 passing. Evan Royster and Silas Redd combined to run for 98 yards and two scores, as the Nittany Lions finished with 171 yards on the ground as a team.

The Spartans have been pretty solid against the run for most of the season, but have allowed at least 160 yards in three of their last four games, and if Penn State can get the ground game going early, I think they have a great shot at winning this game.

Looking at the Odds: Even though the Spartans come in with a much better record, I think you have to take the Nittany Lions at +2 in this one, as I feel like they have a great shot at winning this game. Penn State has won 10 straight home finales, and have won eight straight at home against Michigan State by an average of 23 points per game, and are 6-2 against the spread in those games. My final score prediction is Penn State 34, Michigan State 30.

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