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Michigan State Football: 3 reasons Spartans will win Peach Bowl vs. Pitt

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State's Jayden Reed, left, celebrates his touchdown against Nebraska with teammate Jalen Nailor during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210925 Msu Nebraska 124a
Michigan State's Jayden Reed, left, celebrates his touchdown against Nebraska with teammate Jalen Nailor during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210925 Msu Nebraska 124a /
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The Peach Bowl is finally upon us and Michigan State football is hoping to end the season with a win over the Pitt Panthers. Here’s why that’ll happen.

Who’s ready for the return of Michigan State football? Everyone? Alright, good.

After a month-long break which followed a huge win over Penn State to conclude the regular season with 10 victories, Mel Tucker and Michigan State will take the field on Thursday evening in the Peach Bowl. This is the Spartans’ first New Year’s Six appearance since the playoff in 2015 and it’s a chance to really gain some momentum as a program.

Tucker is aiming to lead Michigan State to 11 wins for just the sixth time in program history and he’s setting the bar high moving forward.

Pitt won’t be a cakewalk, though. The Panthers won the ACC title and are 11-2 heading into this game under Pat Narduzzi. But Michigan State has to like its chances on Thursday night.

Here’s why the Spartans will beat the ACC champions on the other side of the field.

3. No Kenny Pickett, Mark Whipple for Pitt

If you were to pinpoint two players who Pitt absolutely could not lose if it wanted a chance to beat Michigan State in the Peach Bowl, No. 1 would be Kenny Pickett and the second would be Jordan Addison. Pickett was a Heisman finalist and Addison won the Biletnikoff Award which is given to the nation’s best receiver.

Fortunately for the Panthers, Addison is playing, but the guy who usually gets him the ball — Pickett — is not. He opted out in order to prepare for the NFL draft.

Nick Patti, Pickett’s replacement, is a junior who has attempted just 62 career passes which is good news for a Spartan secondary that desperately needs a confidence boost. This could be just that as Patti hasn’t seen the field much over his three-year career.

To make matters worse for Pitt, offensive coordinator Mark Whipple is gone after the Panthers had a monster season on offense. He was the mastermind behind the breakout and he bolted for Nebraska so the Panthers won’t have the same guy who helped lead them to 11 wins and an explosive offense calling plays.

Michigan State’s defense may actually thrive in this situation.

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