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Michigan State Football: Post-spring 2019 game-by-game predictions

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Cody White #7 of the Michigan State Spartans tries to get around the tackle of Jeffrey Okudah #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes after a first half catch at Spartan Stadium on November 10, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Cody White #7 of the Michigan State Spartans tries to get around the tackle of Jeffrey Okudah #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes after a first half catch at Spartan Stadium on November 10, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 13: La’Darius Jefferson #15 of the Michigan State Spartans reaches for a 1 yard touchdown in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 13: La’Darius Jefferson #15 of the Michigan State Spartans reaches for a 1 yard touchdown in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

After losing two straight games and heading into the bye week spiraling out of control, Michigan State will have a chance to regroup. Penn State comes to town ranked in the Top 25 and pushing for the Big Ten East title, but the Spartans aren’t going to let them pass right on through unscathed.

The Nittany Lions will be 7-0, coming off a huge win over Michigan (although that game is a toss-up) and playing for a spot in the top-five rankings nationally. They’ll be in the playoff conversation which is surprising given that they will be starting a young, unproven quarterback in Sean Clifford.

Michigan State is going to make the young gunslinger, and friend of Spartan tight end Matt Dotson, run for his life all game long, sacking him four times and holding him under 200 yards through the air. The run game won’t quite be the same as it was with Miles Sanders, either, and Michigan State’s top-ranked defense will hold Ricky Slade and Co. to less than 100 yards.

This will be one of the more dominant defensive efforts of the season for the Spartans and the Nittany Lions will look lost late in the game, down a touchdown. They’ll try to play hero ball and Clifford will toss a pick into the waiting arms of David Dowell to seal the win.

Final Score: Penn State 20, Michigan State 27 (6-2, 3-2)

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