John McGonigal, who covers Penn State for the Centre Daily Times, breaks down the Nittany Lions for The Detroit News, answering five questions heading into Saturday’s Penn State-Michigan State game.
Source: Detroit News
Tag: Penn State
-
Preview: Michigan State defense vs. Penn State offense – stats, scouting report
Michigan State’s defense had an overtime letdown last week after bending but not breaking for the majority of regulation. Overall, MSU has had a bounce-back season defensively, and the Spartans have proven capable of bouncing back from poor performances this year, too. After struggling in the loss to Notre Dame, Michigan State came out and shut down Iowa the following week and was playing at a high level until the loss to Northwestern.
Source: Spartan Tailgate
-
The Only Questions: Q&A with Penn State
We have Aaron Yorke with us this week from the Black Shoe Diaries, the best Penn State community out there. So if you haven’t read their stuff click the link! With that let’s get right into it as Aaron runs us through his thoughts on the battle for the Land Grant Trophy.
Source: The Only Colors
-
Pressure on Michigan State to score more against high-powered Penn State
Michigan State’s goal sheet includes scoring 30 points every game.However, the Spartans have checked that off the list just three times this year. The first was a 35-10 season-opening win against Bowling Green, the second was a 30-27 win at Minnesota on Oct. 14 and, most recently, a 39-31 loss at Northwestern last week. And that final one comes with an asterisk because it took triple overtime to top 30 points.
Source: MLive.com
-
Spartan Speak: Penn State football preview, Kyle Ahrens injury, Jaren Jackson future
Detroit Free Press/Lansing State Journal Michigan State beat writer Chris Solari and LSJ sports producer Phil Friend push forward without regular host Graham Couch. This week, they’ll discuss what lies ahead for the Spartan football team after the crushing loss to Northwestern, what may or may not happen vs. Penn State. Chris and Phil then switch to basketball, discussing Kyle Ahrens’s injury and what Jaren Jackson brings to the table.
-
Michigan State vs. Penn State: Scouting the edge at each position, predicted score
Michigan State will attempt to avoid suffering back-to-back losses for the first time this season when it hosts Penn State on Saturday (Noon, FOX). The No. 24 Spartans (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) are coming off a 39-31 triple-overtime loss at Northwestern while No. 7 Penn State (7-1, 4-1) lost 39-38 at Ohio State.
Source: MLive.com
-
No. 24 Spartans Host No. 7 Penn State in Big Ten East Division Showdown
No. 24 Michigan State hosts No. 7 Penn State in a Big Ten East Division clash on Saturday, Nov. 4 at noon in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised on FOX. The Spartans (6-2) had their four-game winning streak snapped in heartbreaking fashion last Saturday, falling at Northwestern in triple overtime, 39-31.
-
Michigan State coverage a concern against Penn State QB Trace McSorley
Michigan State experienced breakdowns in pass coverage against Northwestern that Clayton Thorson exposed. Using running back Justin Jackson in the pass game exploited those weak spots. It was something Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley did a year ago in abundance. And it erased the Spartans’ surprising halftime lead in that game.
Source: Detroit Free Press
-
Preview: Michigan State offense vs. Penn state defense – stats, scouting report
Even in a loss last week to Northwestern, Michigan State’s offense showed flashes of what it can be this season. The run game still struggled to provide consistent production, but the passing attack broke through with a school-record 445 yards from sophomore Brian Lewerke. Granted, the game went to overtime, but even in regulation, Lewerke had a big day that was only dampened by a couple missed shots down the field. Freshman receiver Cody White continued to emerge, and now the Spartans have at least three
Source: Spartan Tailgate
-
Michigan State embraces pressure, Penn State, title hopes
If not for reporters asking questions every week, the Michigan State players would never bring up 2016. They don’t think about it, and they definitely don’t talk about it, safety David Dowell said. The Spartans have achieved their 6-2 record so far this season by keeping blinders on and their focus forward. Dwelling on that 3-9 season wouldn’t help much at all.
Source: Land of 10
-
Michigan State football vs. Penn State: Scouting report, prediction
Last year, Nittany Lions coach James Franklin kept McSorley throwing the ball in the waning minutes with in the game well in hand, and MSU coach Mark Dantonio believed it was because the Spartans allowed offensive lineman Jack Allen to run for a touchdown in their 55-16 win in East Lansing a year earlier. Penn State players also said the Allen TD run was used as motivation. And Franklin alluded earlier in 2016 that Dantonio and his staff had used negative recruiting tactics against his program, which Dantonio and other Big Ten coaches denied.
Source: Detroit Free Press
-
Know Thy Enemy: Forget winter, Saquon Barkley is coming
The battle for the Land-Grant Trophy is on. To better understand life as a Nittany Lion, The State News interviewed Matt Martell, the football editor of The Daily Collegian and asked him four questions on Penn State football.
Source: The State News
-
How Michigan State plans to defend Heisman Trophy front-runner Saquon Barkley
He’s 5-foot-11 and a sturdy 230 pounds. He’s on track for his third-straight 1,000-yard rushing season, is also one of the top receiving threats in the Big Ten and the front-runner to win the Heisman Trophy. He’s Penn State junior running back Saquon Barkley and he is Michigan State’s problem this weekend.
Source: MLive.com
-
Michigan State defense’s mission: Stop Penn State RB Saquon Barkley
Northwestern’s Justin Jackson showed Michigan State’s defense the problems a versatile running back can create. Amplify those problems by a couple notches this week. Penn State’s Saquon Barkley is that good – and that much more dangerous and elusive – both on the ground and as a pass catcher.
Source: Detroit Free Press
-
Why Michigan State Football will defeat Penn State
I know what you’re thinking, this is a team that just got 39 points dropped on them by a Northwestern offense that ranks 63rd in total offense in the FBS. Penn State’s coming off a 39-38 loss to Ohio State in what could be argued as the game of the year thus far. The Spartans will have to bring their every ounce of fight to pull off the upset in East Lansing.
Source: isportsweb
-
Michigan State looks to answer the challenge against another top-10 opponent
Michigan State already has a win over a top-10 team this season. That came when the Spartans, then unranked and 13-point underdogs, upset then-No. 7 Michigan 14-10 in Ann Arbor on Oct. 7. One month later, No. 24 Michigan State (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) is once again the underdog (-7.5) against the No. 7 team in the nation as it will host Penn State (7-1, 4-1) on Saturday (Noon, FOX) in East Lansing.
Source: MLive.com
-
Penn State Visits For Top-10 Showdown Wednesday
Michigan State has a midweek/weekend schedule on tap, hosting No. 1 Penn State on Wednesday to wrap a three-match homestand before heading to Evanston, Ill. for the first of two meetings this season with Northwestern.
-
Early Look: Michigan State vs. No. 7 Penn State
This week, Michigan State will look to beat the No. 7 team in the country for the second time this season. MSU is set to host Penn State on Saturday at Spartan Stadium (noon, FOX) with both teams coming off difficult losses.
Source: Spartans Tailgate
-
Michigan State opens as double-digit underdog to Penn State
No. 7 Penn State (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) is an 11-point favorite against No. 24 Michigan State (6-2, 4-1) for Saturday’s game (Noon, FOX) in East Lansing, according to the early line released by vegasinsider.com on Sunday evening. It would be the second time this season the Spartans were a double-digit underdog, after getting 13 points in a 14-10 win at then-No. 7 Michigan on Oct. 7.
Source: MLive.com