Michigan State Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017

By Adam Zdroik | Aug 14, 2017

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 17: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans reacts on the sidelines during the second quarter of the college football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 17, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Spartans defeated the Wolverines 27-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 28: Gerald Holmes #24 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after running for a six-yard touchdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the second quarter of the game at Spartan Stadium on November 28, 2015 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Even with this game being in East Lansing, the chances for an upset aren’t great for the Spartans. The best route for them to upset teams this year will be through the defense, but with only three returning starters, those odds aren’t great and are even longer against this Penn State offense.

Trace McSorley threw for 376 yards and four touchdowns in this game last year and the Nittany Lions won 45-12 even while gaining 2.3 yards per carry. If Michigan State pulls out wins in its prior couple games, this may have a different result, but with the team likely already having three or four losses, the players won’t be high on confidence.

The combination of McSorley, Saquon Barkley and DaeSean Hamilton will be too much for most teams to handle this year and with 18 starters returning in all, the Nittany Lions should take this game, even with Michigan and Ohio State on the schedule in the two weeks leading up to it.

Score Prediction: Penn State 38, Michigan State 24 (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten)

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