Michigan St. vs. Penn St. Prediction
Will No. 7 Penn State find itself in a physical, defensive battle when it hosts Michigan State today at 3:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Penn State is favored at home in this game, as the Nittany Lions are getting odds of -11.5 points against Michigan State. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 54.5 points. Michigan State has won three straight meetings with Penn State and the two have hit the over in five of their last six meetings.
Bet on Michigan State vs. Penn State
This is a big game for Penn State as it still can win the Big Ten East with a win today and an Ohio State win over Michigan. The Nittany Lions are coming off a 39-0 win at Rutgers to move to 9-2 on the season and 7-1 in the Big Ten. They are on a 7-game win streak since a 49-10 loss to Michigan and they are 8-3 with the over, hitting in it three of their last four. PSU is averaging 35.8 points and 426.6 yards per game on offense this season. They have a run game that is putting up 187 yards per contest, led by Saquon Barkley’s 1,205 yards and 14 touchdowns. Trace McSorley has added 2,600 passing yards and 17 touchdowns while rushing for 359 yards and six scores. Defensively, PSU is giving up 23.7 points and 347.1 yards per contest.
Michigan State is coming off a 17-16 loss to Ohio State at home last week. The Spartans are now 3-8 on the season and 1-7 in the Big Ten while putting up a 7-4 mark with the under. MSU has been improved on defense in recent games, allowing just 17 points in the last two games combined. The Spartans now allow 26.2 points and 355.9 yards per game. The unit is likely to be without stud lineman Malik McDowell, who continues to deal with an ankle injury. On offense, MSU is averaging 25.2 points and 399.7 yards per contest, including 178.5 rushing yards per contest. LJ Scott has run for 935 yards and six touchdowns to lead the rushing attack while Tyler O’Connor has thrown for 1,852 yards and 16 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
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Penn State’s offense has been good, as running the ball could be something it can do on Saturday, but I look for the Spartans to continue to step up on defense this week. MSU may be out of the postseason picture, but that just means this is their last game and they want to spoil someone else’s title hopes. MSU’s defense has the capability of stopping Penn State but its offense is likely to struggle against the Nittany Lions. I like the under to hit in this one.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 13 PREDICTION: MICHIGAN STATE/PENN STATE UNDER 54.5