No. 7 Penn State vs. Michigan State: Chance at Big Ten East title at stake

Share

No. 7 Penn State (9-2, 7-1 Big Ten) vs. Michigan State (3-8, 1-7 Big Ten)
Beaver Stadium, State College
Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Scouting Penn State
The Nittany Lions ran their winning streak to seven with a 39-0 thrashing of Rutgers last week, limiting the Scarlet Knights to 87 yards and five first downs, both of which were the fewest allowed by a PSU team in a Big Ten game since the Lions joined the conference in 1993. Quarterback Trace McSorley is second in the FBS in yards per completion (15.57), with 2,959 yards and is on track to break PSU’s single-season total-offense record (3,215), established by Matt McGloin in 2012. Saquon Barkley continues to lead the conference in rushing (1,205 yards), all-purpose yardage (1,538) and total touchdowns (16). Penn State is averaging 39.7 points per game during its winning streak. Safety Marcus Allen leads the team with 83 tackles, and the Lions’ 33 sacks are second-most in the Big Ten.

Scouting Michigan State
The Spartans, long ago assured of their first losing season since 2009, pushed No. 2 Ohio State before losing 17-16 last week, their third loss this season by four points or fewer. MSU was denied on a two-point conversion attempt after scoring a touchdown with 4:41 left. Running back L.J. Scott, who rushed 19 times for a career-high 160 yards against the Buckeyes, has 935 yards this season (5.6 per carry), seventh-most in the Big Ten. Quarterback Tyler O’Connor has completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 1,852 yards and 16 touchdowns, with nine interceptions. He is sixth in the conference in passing efficiency, ninth in yards per game (185.2) and ninth in total offense (194.1). Wide receiver R.J. Shelton has 48 catches and is seventh in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards (1,235). MSU is last in the conference in sacks with 10, and last in red-zone defense, having allowed opponents to score on 34 of 37 occasions, with 26 touchdowns.

History
Michigan State leads the all-time series, 15-14-1, and has won the last three meetings. The score last year in East Lansing was 55-16.

Storyline to watch
There is only one: If Ohio State beats Michigan in a noon kick, the Lions win the Big Ten East with a victory.

What’s at stake
See above.

Prediction
Penn State, 33-20.

Contact Us