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Michigan State Football: 2016 Game-by-Game Predictions

By Colton Wesley

Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio celebrates with his team after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio celebrates with his team after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

Week Twelve: Michigan State (10-1) @ Penn State, November 26

Series History: First meeting in 1914, Michigan State leads the series 15-14-1.

What Happened Last Time: 2015: Michigan State won 55-16.

The Penn State Nittany Lions:

The Nittany Lions return most of their offensive playmakers as they make the transition into new offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead’s offense, and the offensive line is experienced and competent, but they will be led by new starting quarterback Trace McSorley, who has little experience. On defense, the pass rushers who led the way last season are gone and their replacements are unproven, but most of the other starters return.

This team has a pretty good recruiting class and some good, although not particularly flashy, players and they could make some noise if it were not for the fact that they are stuck in the East with three powerhouse programs.

Forecast:

These two teams meet every year in the final week of the season for something called the Land Grant trophy, and like usual the game will be very anticlimactic because of all of the hype surrounding both the Ohio State game the week before and the Ohio State-Michigan game which could very well decide who goes to the Big Ten Championship game.

That being said, this is definitely a losable game for Michigan State. Penn State is a competent team with no glaring weaknesses, especially if McSorley turns out to be good. Michigan State bounces back from a loss to Buckeyes, but not before the Nittany Lions give them a scare.

Final Prediction:

Michigan State: A win.

Penn State: Still bowl eligible.

Should I Watch It?: It’s rivalry week, so normally Michigan-Ohio State, Notre Dame-USC and Alabama-Auburn take precedence. However, you’ll at least want to keep an eye on it just because of how close it might be.

Season Record: 11-1

Next: Summary

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