Penn State looks to end season on high note
The unranked Penn State Nittany Lions will be at home for their regular season finale against the no. 10 ranked Michigan State Spartans on Saturday 27 November. The Spartans on the other hand will be looking to stay in a tie for first place in the
Big Ten conference.
Michigan State’s season so far
The Spartans began their season with an eight-game winning streak, with victories over Western Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Notre Dame, Northern Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Northwestern.
The streak was snapped on 30 October with their 37-6 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes, but the Spartans got back into the winners' circle with a victory the following week against Minnesota.
After a bye week, Michigan State was at home last weekend against Purdue and pulled out a 35-31 victory to bring their record to 10-1 overall and 6-1 in the Big Ten. Currently, the Big Ten winner will get an automatic bid into the Rose Bowl, and if the Spartans
want an opportunity at that, they will have to be victorious this weekend.
Penn State’s season to date
The Nittany Lions opened their season with a victory over Youngstown State University, but fell the following week to former number one Alabama.
Penn State went on a modest two-game winning streak over Kent State and Temple over the following two weeks, but fell into a hole in the two weeks following that with losses coming against Iowa and Illinois.
After the loss to Illinois and a bye week, the Nittany Lions got back into the winning column, reeling off three straight victories against Minnesota, Michigan and Northwestern.
Two weeks ago, Penn State lost to Ohio State, but rebounded last week against Indiana to bring their record to 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the Big Ten. They are bowl eligible and have no opportunity at the Big Ten title, but can definitely play spoiler to the Spartans
plans.
Spartans keys to the game
How healthy is quarterback Kirk Cousins? His 75.7% completion rating along with three touchdowns and 276 yards through the air in their victory over Purdue suggests there is nothing to worry about.
“I was very close to pulling myself out of the game,'' Cousins said after last Saturday's comeback win over Purdue according to pennlive.com. “I got a shot for the shoulder and a shot for the ankle. I have a footwork problem. I can't plant or pivot without
excruciating pain.''
That statement suggests otherwise. Look for running backs Edwin Baker and Le’Veon Bell to shoulder much of the load for this game to take the pressure off of their hurting quarterback. Baker and Bell have combined for 20 touchdowns and 1661 yards on the ground.
Penn State’s keys to the game
Like the old adage says: keep it simple, stupid. If Cousins drops back in the pocket, have a lineman or linebacker go hit him. He should have a bull’s eye on his back right now and the defence should be aware of his physical issues.
As for the offence, quarterback Matthew McGloin needs to carry over his performance from last weekend’s victory over Indiana, where he completed 71% of his passes and threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns.
Michigan State ranks fifth in the Big Ten in passing yards allowed this season with 2278 and the Nittany Lions receiving corps, predominantly Derek Moye and Brett Brackett, will need to exploit the weak Spartan secondary.
Prediction
Michigan State 38 – Penn State 21
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