Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Football: Staff score predictions vs. Penn State in Week 10

By Connor Muldowney

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - NOVEMBER 26: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans carries the ball past John Reid #29 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first quarter on November 26, 2016 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - NOVEMBER 26: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans carries the ball past John Reid #29 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first quarter on November 26, 2016 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Michigan State football will host Penn State on Saturday afternoon, but will there be an upset brewing? Here’s what our staff thinks.

The 2017 season is rolling right along now and Michigan State is already eyeing a bowl berth, but the Spartans want to take it one step further and win the Big Ten East. After a disaster season, winning the division would be grounds for calling Mark Dantonio the National Coach of the Year.

Must Read: MSU Football: Preview, prediction and more vs. Penn State

It will take a win over Penn State on Saturday, though. The Spartans host the No. 7 Nittany Lions in an East battle that could help decide the division. The Nittany Lions no longer control their own fate, but the Spartans do. However, the Nittany Lions are still in line for a playoff berth, but barring a miracle, the Spartans are not.

Here’s what our staff believes the final score will be.

Connor Muldowney: Michigan State knows how to get up for these big games and Mark Dantonio is to thank for that. You can bet he’s been preaching “Big Ten title” at practice this week. A loss to Penn State would effectively end any hope of that, but his team won’t come out flat and roll over. In fact, the Spartans will take a lead into halftime, but it will disappear early in the third. Brian Lewerke will have another good game, but it won’t be enough as the ground game will be absent yet again. With the game hanging in the balance, Saquon Barkley will score a clinching score with just a minute left.

Final Score: Penn State 31, Michigan State 21

Dustin Hockensmith (Guest pick from PennLive.com): Penn State limps into East Lansing, potentially without starting left tackle Ryan Bates and defensive end Ryan Buchholz. The Lions are also licking their emotional wounds coming off a 39-38 loss at Ohio State that saw them blow a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter. Michigan State has the ingredients to give Penn State problems with a rising quarterback in Brian Lewerke, a sound defensive front and a physical, disciplined approach. The Spartans will need the Lions to stumble early coming off an emotional loss to have a shot, but who knows what can happen if Michigan State lands the first big punch. Penn State is a focused, purposeful team under James Franklin, so I don’t expect much of a malaise.

Final Score: Penn State 30, Michigan State 16

Stephen Robb: Michigan State’s loss to Northwestern was a surprise, but it also shows how far this team still needs to go. Yes, they’re young but the defense had looked championship-worthy. Blown coverages and inexperience left the door open for the Wildcats. Penn State comes to town fresh off a loss to OSU. This was already a tough game and now the Nittany Lions will be looking to get back on track. MSU cannot seem to tackle in space. Justin Jackson exposed the problem with catches out of the backfield and Saquon Barkley will exploit it. The Spartans are not ready for this game. Penn State will be too much.

Final Score: Penn State 45, Michigan State 21

Adam Zdroik: Penn State is coming off a brutal loss and that has given some people a good reason to take MSU. But, I just don’t see Michigan State’s offense doing enough to win this game. Trace McSorley will be the one that wins it for the Nittany Lions, not Saquon Barkley. For the Spartans to have a shot, Brian Lewerke needs to step up.

Final Score: Penn State 27, Michigan State 20

Michael Briggs: If Michigan State played as well as it had to start last week’s game against Northwestern, it would have been much easier to pick MSU this week. Instead, the Spartans got sloppy with the football, the defense faltered when it mattered and the ground game stalled. It was a disappointing result, but one we probably should have seen coming from this young Spartans team.

Next: MSU Football: 5 bold predictions for November

As for the PSU game, much will be decided by Penn State’s mindset. Are the Nittany Lions mentally battered following last week’s one-point loss to Ohio State or motivated to prove they are still a title contender? Michigan State needs to come to play either way, but PSU’s disposition will play a large factor on the road in another potentially rainy MSU football game. I believe the Spartans will put forth a solid all-around performance, but Penn State appears to be too much right now for this MSU team.

Final Score: Penn State 30, Michigan State 21

Home/Spartans Football