Michigan State Spartans at Penn State Nittany Lions Odds

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Michigan State Spartans(-1.5)
Game Total Line: (50)
(wagering lines available at 5Dimes)

The Michigan State Spartans will try a lock up at least a share of the Big 10 title when they travel to Happy Valley to take on Joe Paterno’s Penn State Nittany Lions in regular season finale for both teams. Kick off from Beaver Stadium in University Park is set for 12 p.m. (ET) this upcoming Saturday afternoon. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

Michigan State fell out of the national title picture with a 37-6 loss to Iowa on Oct. 30. The Spartans failed to cover as a 6 ½ point road underdog and the total stayed ‘under’ the 50 point line. Last time out they needed some fourth quarter heroics by QB Kirk Cousins, who is still battling through a shoulder injury, to pull out a 35-31 win over Purdue. This time out Michigan State was a 20 ½ point home favorite and the total went ‘over’ the 50 point line.

The win moved the Spartans to 10-1 straight-up on the year, but they are just 6-5 ATS. They are 6-1 SU in Big 10 play and would earn a berth in the Rose Bowl with a win in this game coupled with an Ohio State loss to Michigan.

Michigan State’s defense is giving up just 19.9 points per game while its offense is averaging 31.6 points per game. The Spartans have one of the more balanced attacks in the conference; averaging 244.2 yards per game in the air and 169.4 yards a game on the ground. Cousins is expected to play, but if he cannot go, look for RB’s Edwin Baker and Le’Veon Bell to pick up the slack with the running game.

Penn State is reduced to playing the role of spoiler in this game as its dreams of a Big 10 title ended back in early October with back-to-back losses to Iowa and Illinois. The Lions have won four out of five since then including a 41-24 win over Indiana last week as a 10-point road favorite. The win moved them to 7-4 SU for the season and 5-6 ATS. They are 4-3 SU in conference play.

Sophomore QB Matt McGloin should get the start in this game after a solid performance last week against the Hoosiers. He has completed 78-of-131 attempts for 1,025 yards in three starts this season and has thrown 11 touchdowns against just three interceptions. WR Derek Moye leads the team with 43 receptions for 741 yards and six TD’s.

Michigan State is 2-1 both SU and ATS in three road game this season. The total has stayed ‘under’ in six of its last 10 games overall.

Penn State is 5-1 SU in six games at home this year but just 3-3 ATS. The total has gone ‘over’ in all of its last six games.

Head-to-head, the Lions have won eight of the last 10 games SU and is 4-2 ATS in the last six. The total has gone ‘over’ in the last three.

Game Betting Pick

Penn State has not been an underdog in this series since 2004, but this has not been one of JoePa’s better teams. Take Michigan State to win and cover the two points on the road, earning at least a share of its first Big 10 title in 20 years.

Take Penn State +1.5 at bodog.com