The Penn State Nittany Lions (7-4, 4-4 Big Ten) and No. 13 Michigan State Spartans (9-2, 6-2) battle Saturday in East Lansing, Michigan. Kickoff from Spartan Stadium is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Penn State vs. Michigan State odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
Penn State has fallen flat since starting the season with five straight wins, a surge that got them to the No. 8 slot in the AFCA Coaches Poll by mid-October. Since then, including a win over Rutgers last Saturday, the Nittany Lions are 2-4.
The silver lining in those dark clouds? PSU’s four losses came by a combined 18 points. The Lions do have a solid passing game (270.9 yards per game) and a very good all-around defense (fourth in points, 27th in yardage).
Michigan State got drilled at Ohio State last Saturday. The Spartans coughed up 655 total yards and 36 first downs in a 56-7 loss to the No. 3 Buckeyes.
Heisman Trophy contender RB Kenneth Walker III was held to 25 yards on six carries in what marked MSU’s second loss in three weeks (Nov. 6 at Purdue). No FBS team allows more passing yards than Michigan State’s 340.3 per game.
PSU and MSU have met 35 times since 1913, and their all-time series is tied, 17-17-1. The Lions won last year’s game 39-24 and have won back-to-back games against the Spartans. Penn State outscored Michigan State 29-3 in the second half of the 2020 tilt.
Rankings courtesy of the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Penn State at Michigan State odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 8:35 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Penn State -190 (bet $190 to win $100) | Michigan State +155 (bet $100 to win $155)
- Against the spread (ATS): Penn State -3.5, -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Michigan State +3.5, -107 (bet $107 to win $100)
- Over/Under (O/U): 51.5, O: -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | U: -110 (bet $120 to win $100)
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Penn State at Michigan State odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Penn State 24, Michigan State 17
Money line
QB Sean Clifford is expected to return to the starting lineup after leaving last week’s game early due to injury and illness.
The Penn State aerial game against a porous Michigan State pass defense makes for enough of an advantage against a being-exposed-of-late, upstart MSU squad: BACK THE NITTANY LIONS (-190).
Against the spread
PASS on the ATS play and concentrate on PSU winning outright.
Over/Under
Penn State has played in five straight Unders. The value here is on that streak reaching six.
Both defenses here are solid in preventing explosive plays. On a chilly day with a chance of snow, BACK THE UNDER 51.5 (-120).
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