If Penn State, ranked No. 8 in the latest Associated Press Top 25, beats Michigan State on Saturday as a solid college football betting favorite and No. 2 Ohio State beats No. 3 Michigan also on Saturday, the Nittany Lions would be the surprise winners of the Big Ten’s East Division and could have a path to the College Football Playoff.
Michigan State at Penn State Odds, Expert Pick & TV Info
When: Saturday, Nov. 26, 3:30 PM ET Where: Beaver Stadium, Happy Valley TV: ESPN Stream: WatchESPN Opening NCAA Football Lines: PSU -12.5 (54.5)Weekly practice update: https://t.co/UVRzybf9mz
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) November 23, 2016
Why Bet on Michigan State?
MSU (3-8) nearly stunned Ohio State last week but lost 17-16 — this is the Spartans’ final game of the season. Mike Weber ran for 111 yards and a touchdown, and No. 2 Ohio State held off Michigan State after the upset-minded Spartans missed a 2-point conversion with 4:41 remaining. The Spartans were down 17-10 when LJ Scott scored on a 1-yard run with 4:41 to play. Michigan State went for the lead, but Tyler O’Connor’s pass on the 2-point conversion attempt was intercepted in the end zone. Coach Mark Dantonio has been ripped for going for it but said that was the plan the entire week with nothing to lose. Scott collected career highs in rushing yards (160), all-purpose yards (236) and receiving yards (76) against the Buckeyes. The career-high 160 rushing yards are the second most by a Spartan against the Buckeyes (Hyland Hickson with 187 in 1988). Scott scored on the second play from scrimmage on a career-long 64-yard TD reception and he finished with two catches for 76 yards. Scott now has 935 rushing yards this season with six rushing TDs. The Spartan defense held the Buckeyes to season lows in points (17), total offense (330 yards) and passing (86 yards). OSU entered the game ranked No. 2 in the FBS in scoring (46.5 ppg) and No. 11 in total offense (511.4 ypg). Michigan State didn’t allow more than 100 yards passing in consecutive games for the first time since 2007 (Rutgers with 40 passing yards, Ohio State with 86). Saturday’s game marks the 31st meeting between Michigan State and Penn State, with the Spartans holding a slim edge in the series, 15-14- 1, following their 55-16 win in East Lansing last season. The Spartans are looking for their fourth consecutive victory over the Nittany Lions for the first time since winning a series-best five straight (1949, 1951, 1952, 1965, 1966).Why Bet on Penn State?
The Nittany Lions (9-2) beat Rutgers 39-0 last week. Penn State held Rutgers to 87 yards and five first downs to win a seventh straight game. It was Penn State’s first shutout since blanking Illinois last season and is the largest road shutout victory since joining the Big Ten in 1993. The 87 yards and five first downs allowed are both Big Ten records for Penn State. The 549 yards of offense are the sixth-most in a Big Ten game by Penn State. It was Penn State’s fourth game with 500 or more yards of offense this season for its most since 2009. Running back Saquon Barkley totaled 92 yards and a touchdown to lead six rushers that totaled 339 yards. Trace McSorley completed 17-of- 33 pass attempts for 210 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 55 yards on 11 carries for 265 yards of total offense. McSorley is on track to break Penn State’s record for total offense in a season, while Barkley continues to lead the Big Ten in rushing yards, all-purpose yards and total touchdowns. Penn State has improved its regular season win total each season under Head Coach James Franklin. The Nittany Lions went 6-6 in 2014, 7-5 in 2015 and are now 9-2 with two games remaining in 2016. Penn State has scored 30 or more points in eight games this year, the most in a season since the 2009 squad did it eight times. The Nittany Lions are also off to a 6-0 start in home games this season and have 12 wins in the last 13 home games.
