Penn State (9-2/5-2) at Michigan State (6-5/4-3)
PSU Sagarin: #21 , #84 ss; MSU Sagarin: #54, #47 ss
Saturday, November 21. 3:30 pm EST.
ABC-TV
Weather: partly sunny, 50 degrees.
Line: Penn State favored by 3.
Tickets Available
Injuries: Michigan State - RB Andre Anderson (gone), out; RB Caulton Ray (gone), out; S Roderick Jenrette (foot), out; RB Glenn Winston (knee), out. Penn State - WR/KR Chaz Powell (shoulder), out; RB Brandon Beachum (ACL), out; CB Stephon Morris (head), doubtful; OL Johnnie Troutman (calf), probable.
Common Opponents: PSU 4-1; MSU 3-2. Iowa (PSU L 10-21, MSU L 13-15); Illinois (PSU W 35-17, MSU W 24-14); Minnesota (PSU W 20-0, MSU L 34-42); Michigan (PSU W 35-10, MSU W 26-20); Northwestern (PSU W 34-13, MSU W 24-14).
ES Predictions: This will likely be a defensive battle, with a tad more offense than what we saw in the Iowa game. Michigan State is as healthy as it has been all year, particularly on the offensive and defensive interior. Penn State has started slow in games but has finished strong.
Special Teams - The JoePas have a huge loss missing Chaz Powell in its kick return game. Expect JoePa not to kick to Spartan WR/KR Keshawn Martin who has emerged as one of the best in the nation; he will allow his PSU defense to take its lumps on a shorter field against the Spartan offense.
MSU offense - Will the MSU offense execute effectively and efficiently enough to get into the endzone? It had its worst showing of the year last week and again showed its difficulty in the red zone converting TDs. Another 11-25-208 showing by Kirk Cousins won't get it done vs. JoePa. MSU's leading rusher was Martin, thanks to his 45-yard run; this also needs to change, with our running backs getting solid yardage.
MSU defense - Will it make the plays at the end to win, or will it bend-but-break and allow JoePa All-World Everything QB Darryl Clark to make the plays to get it into the BCS? Clark wasn't impressive (17-28-194, 2 INTs; 29 yards rushing) last week against a ho-hum Indiana squad. But, MSU hasn't exactly caused oodles of turnovers this year... can the Lions take advantage of an inconsistent Spartan secondary that is 10th in pass defense? Probably. But will it be enough?
Don't be surprised if this game is again decided on special teams, which favors the Big Green. This is the toughest game of the year for the ES to predict so far. What Spartan team will show up?
Halftime: Michigan State 17, Penn State 7. Final Score: Michigan State 23, Penn State 21.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Dantonio just gave us the second greatest 3 year run in Spartan History. MSU has not won 7 games three years in a row since Duffy in 1955-57. Not even Perles could win 7 three years in a row. The ceiling for us is to go 6-6 or 7-5 every year. That is what the administation wants because the only alternative is to fall out of Mediocrity and go 4-8 and 3-9. Joe said a South Bend writer indicates Notre Dame may go after Dantonio to replace Charlie Weiss due to our three bowls in a row. Hollis may lock Dantonio up with a 10 year extension to keep Notre Dame away.
ReplyDeleteEmbrace Mediocrity, Celebrate it,
Dantonio stated his goals for the program . He wants to go 7-5 stay in the mix and than once in a blue moon when everything comes together shoot for third place.