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Just three weeks ago, the Ohio State Buckeyes ruined the Michigan State Spartans‘ hopes of making it to the first annual CFB Playoff. However, the Spartans have rebounded to dominate the two games since and are looking to end with yet another 10-win season. The Penn State Nittany Lions are finally bowl eligible and are looking to improve on a 6-5 record with a huge win over No. 10 MSU.
Connor Cook has been solid for the Spartans this season although he hasn’t quite lived up to the elevated expectations that were handed to him before the season began. The junior quarterback was expected to be a serious Heisman threat, but has been too inconsistent to even be considered for the award. Cook has passed for 2,720 yards, 21 touchdowns and just five interceptions while completing 58 percent of his throws. Senior wide out Tony Lippett has been the best receiver for the Spartans in years as he has caught 56 passes for 1,071 yards and 10 touchdowns while tight end Josiah Price has been effective, catching 23 passes for 347 yards and five touchdowns. Jeremy Langford might be one of the best running backs in recent memory for MSU, racking up 15 straight 100-yard games in conference play and accounting for 1,242 yards and 17 touchdowns on the season.
Penn State has had many offensive troubles this season, including a failure to protect Christian Hackenberg in the pocket, leading to a mediocre season for the sophomore quarterback. On the year, Hackenberg has passed for 2,411 yards, eight touchdowns and an elevated 14 interceptions while watching his completion rate drop to 55 percent — he has been sacked 39 times this year compared to 21 time all of last season. Sophomore wide out DaeSean Hamilton has burst onto the scene to lead the team in receiving with 69 catches for 793 yards and just one touchdown while junior Geno Lewis has 45 catches for 640 yards and one touchdown on his own. Akeel Lynch leads the run game in terms of yards with 552 to go along with three touchdowns while Bill Belton has a team-high six rushing scores as well as 515 yards on the ground.
The Nittany Lions have salvaged their otherwise unspectacular season with their surprisingly solid defense. Penn State has the fourth-best scoring defense in the nation as well as the third-best total defense. Michigan State is no snooze, either, ranking 22nd in points allowed and eighth in total yards allowed per game. This game will come down to defensive play.
Michigan State will travel to Penn State to take on the Nittany Lions at 3:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, Nov. 29. The game will be broadcasted on ABC and ESPN2.
PREDICTION: Michigan State 30, Penn State 17
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].
