Saturday, November 26, 2016

Beaver Stadium

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The Michigan State Spartans take on the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday, November 26, 2016 at Beaver Stadium. The opening line for this game has Penn State as 13.5 point favorites. This season the Spartans are 4-7-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 4-7-0. The Nittany Lions have an over/under record of 8-3-0 and they are 7-3-1 against the spread.

Tyler O'Connor finished with 105 yards through the air for Michigan State last week. He completed 6 passes out of 16 attempts for a 38% completion percentage. The Spartans were led in rushing by LJ Scott, who finished with 160 yards on 19 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 8 yards per carry. LJ Scott was the team leader in receiving with a total of 76 yards and 2 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 38 yards per reception. As a team in that game Michigan State got a total of 13 first downs. Of those first downs, 9 came on the ground while 4 came through the air. They ran 56 total plays for 334 yards for the game. The Spartans ran for 207 yards on 35 attempts.

Trace McSorley finished with 240 yards passing for Penn State last week. He went 11 for 18, resulting in a 61% completion percentage. The Nittany Lions were led on the ground by Saquon Barkley, who finished with 167 yards on 20 carries. He ended the game with an average of 8 yards per rush. Chris Godwin led the team in receiving with 87 yards and 4 catches. He finished the game with an average of 22 yards per reception. Penn State had 24 first downs total. 15 came from running the ball and 9 came from a pass. They ran 70 total plays for 599 yards for the contest. The Nittany Lions ran for 359 yards on 52 carries as a team.

Michigan State scores 25.2 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 91st in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 16.9 passes on 29.5 attempts for a 57.4 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 221.3 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 79th in college football. The Spartans run for an average of 178.5 yards per game on 39 attempts for an average of 4.6 yards per carry. That ranks them 64th in the nation. They also run 68.5 plays per contest and average 5.8 yards per play for an average of 399.7 yards per game, ranking their offense 74th overall this season. The Spartans average 20.1 first downs per game which ranks them 90th in the country. They accumulate 63.7 penalty yards per game via 6.6 penalties, which ranks 23rd in the nation.

Michigan State allows 189.8 passing yards per game, ranking 19th in D-1, and they allow 26.2 points per contest on defense, which ranks 54th. They give up 16.4 completions on 28 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 58.4. The Spartans allow 166.5 rushing yards per game on 38.5 carries for an average of 4.3 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 60th in the country. Michigan State allows 356.4 total yards per game including 5.4 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 29th in terms of yards per game. They force 1.2 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 4.5 penalties for 40.7 yards per game, ranking them 12th among D-1 teams.

Penn State averages 35.8 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 30th in the country. In the passing department, they complete 15.3 passes per game on 27.9 attempts for a 54.7 percent completion percentage. They throw for 238.7 yards through the air per game, ranking them 57th in Division 1. The Nittany Lions run for an average of 191.8 yards per game on 40.1 attempts for an average of 4.8 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 49th on the ground. They also run 68 plays per game and average 6.3 yards per play for a total of 430.5 yards per game, ranking them 52nd in the country on offense. The Nittany Lions get an average of 20.3 first downs per game, which ranks 86th in the nation. They average 46.5 penalty yards per game via 5.3 penalties, ranking them 94th in college football.

Penn State allows an average of 197.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 31st in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 23.7 points per contest, which has them ranked 41st in the nation. They give up 19.8 completions on 31.9 attempts for a completion percentage of 62.1 per game. The Nittany Lions allow 150.4 rushing yards per contest on 38.5 carries for a 3.9 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 44th in the country. Penn State allows 347.8 total yards per game for an average of 4.9 yards per play, which ranks 23rd in D-1. They force 1.7 turnovers per contest and 7.5 penalties for 66.5 yards in each contest, ranking 113th in the nation.

Michigan State Betting Trends

Michigan State is 4-7-0 against the over/under this season

Michigan State has an ATS record of 4-7-0 this season

Penn State Betting Trends

Penn State is 8-3-0 against the over/under this season

Penn State has an ATS record of 7-3-1 this season

Injuries to Watch

Michigan State

11/20/16 DE Auston Robertson Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Penn State
11/20/16 CB Drake Martinez Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Penn State
11/20/16 DE Evan Jones Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Penn State
11/20/16 S Jalen Watts-Jackson Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Penn State
11/20/16 DL Malik McDowell Ankle "?" Saturday vs. Penn State
11/20/16 CB Tyson Smith Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Penn State
11/14/16 LB Jon Reschke Ankle out for season
11/14/16 G Tyler Higby Ankle out for season
11/07/16 CB Vayante Copeland Foot out for season
10/31/16 QB Brian Lewerke Leg out for season
10/07/16 DE Mufi Hunt Knee out indefinitely
10/04/16 DT Raequan Williams Shoulder out indefinitely
09/01/16 DT Enoch Smith Jr. Personal left the team

Penn State

11/20/16 OL Connor McGovern Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Michigan State
11/17/16 T Paris Palmer Undisclosed out for season
11/17/16 G Brendan Mahon Undisclosed out indefinitely
10/25/16 OT Chance Sorrell Knee out for season
10/19/16 OT Andrew Nelson Knee out for season
09/26/16 LB Jan Johnson Leg out for season
09/24/16 TE Nick Bowers Undisclosed out for season
09/20/16 LB Nyeem Wartman-White Knee out for season

Tony's Pick: Take Penn State -13.5

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