It’s surreal to think this is game 12 of the 2023 regular season for the Penn State football team. You wait all summer for football season and just like that, it’s over. It has been a season full of ups and downs but the Nittany Lions get to finish it off in a big way tonight against Michigan State. With the greatest trophy in college sports on the line, the Land Grant Trophy. Penn State has great betting odds but will they cover?
Injury Report (Based on the previous week’s official Big Ten availability injury reports)
Penn State:
Alonzo Ford DT
Smith Vilbert DE
Landon Tengwall OL
Harrison Wallace III WR
Tyler Holzworth RB
Feyisayo Oluleye WR
Michigan State:
Chuck Brantley CB
Semar Melvin DB
Noah Kim QB
Jarett Jackson DL
Jaron Glover
Trey Mosley
Dillon Tatum
Bai Jobe DL
Darius Snow S
Marqui Lowery CB
Khalil Majeed S
Khary Crump DB
Dre Butler DT
Geno VanDeMark
Brennan Parachek TE
Betting Odds:
Spread:
Penn State (-22.5) vs. Michigan State
James Franklin’s Nittany Lions enter Saturday’s matchup as 22.5-point favorites. Penn State is 8-3 ATS this season. Michigan State is 5-5-1 ATS this season.
Penn State Football Moneyline: -2800
Placing a $2800 bet on Penn State to knock off Michigan State would pay $100 which isn’t a great return for your betting odds. The Series is tied 18-18-1 all-time. Penn State is currently on a 1 game-winning streak in the series. Last year the Nittany Lions came away with a dominant 35-16 victory in State College.
Penn State Football vs. Michigan State Over/Under: 42.5
The total has gone over in 6 of 11 games for the Nittany Lions to start the season. The total has gone over in 5 of 11 games for Michigan State this season. The total has gone over in 14 of the last 20 matchups between the two sides.
Penn State football vs Michigan State Game Predictions: (15-4)
This game is a strange one to figure out. The series has been back and forth in recent years and is probably the most competitive matchup that the Nittany Lions have had since joining the Big Ten. After all, they are playing for the prestigious Land Grant Trophy. Michigan State is entering this game with just 43 scholarship players, the game is a neutral site, and it is the last week of the season over Thanksgiving break with no hopes for a bowl game.
While the series has had its fair amount of upsets in previous years, the deck is certainly stacked against the Spartans. While it is technically a home game for Michigan State it will be interesting to see how many Nittany Lion fans show up for the black Friday matchup considering how easy it is to fly into Detroit. Penn State should cover this game with ease and the over should hit as well. I see the running game getting going in this one with Singleton and Allen able to take advantage of the fast turf. Penn State finishes the year 10-2 once again and positions itself for an NY6 bowl game if the rest of the matchups go in their favor.
Prediction: Penn State 45 Michigan State 7
Big Ten bet of the Week: (5-6)
Michigan vs Ohio State (+3.5) 12:00 pm ET FOX
The winning streak came to an end last week as Michigan struggled to pull it out in College Park. This week we turn against the Wolverines and pick Ohio State who is an unusual underdog in this matchup. JJ McCarthy has not impressed me throwing the ball and I think the Buckeyes have sort of been disrespected this season. I think Ohio State not only covers the spread in this one but I think they win outright and head to the Big Ten Championship.
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