Hello from Beaver Stadium
The winds are whipping down there, on the field where MSU will try to overcome recent history and win a championship. The forecast is calling for gusts up to 29 mph and a wind chill of 20, but I swear I got hit with a 45er heading into the press box. Passing the ball downfield could be tricky today, putting even more of an emphasis on each team's rushing attack.
Today’s game
No. 11 MSU (10-1 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) vs. Penn State (7-4, 4-3)
Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa.
When: Noon
TV: ESPN2
Radio: WJIM 1240-AM, WMMQ 94.9-FM
Coaches
MSU: Mark Dantonio is 32-18 (.640) in his fourth season with the Spartans, and 50-35 (.588) in his seventh as a head coach.
Penn State: The 83-year-old Joe Paterno is 401-133-3 (.750) in his 45th season, all with the Nittany Lions.
The numbers
6
Big Ten championships in MSU’s football history since joining the league in 1953. The Spartans won it in that first year, and in 1965, 1966, 1978, 1987 and 1990. The titles were outright in 1965, 1966 and 1987, and shared in the other three seasons.
136
Career receptions for MSU junior receiver B.J. Cunningham, which places him fourth all-time at MSU, one ahead of Charles Rogers and two behind Courtney Hawkins. Senior Mark Dell has 131, tied for ninth with Plaxico Burress.
1966
Joe Paterno’s first season as Penn State head coach, which saw him bring the Nittany Lions to East Lansing and lose 42-8 to a Duffy Daugherty team that eventually claimed a share of the national title.
Quotable
“We’ve talked for a long time about leaving a legacy here in our time that we have here. We’re just dust passing through, as coach Dantonio says, and when we pass through we want to leave something people remember. We’ve got a chance to do that (today).”
MSU junior quarterback Kirk Cousins
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THE BOTTOM LINE
Gameday buzz
By a little after 3 p.m. today, the Spartans could be headed for the Rose Bowl. Or they could be relegated to a third-place finish. While the Spartans play for a share of the title at Penn State, Michigan will be trying to pull off an upset of Ohio State in Columbus. A Wolverines win in tandem with a Spartans win is MSU’s only way to Pasadena. Considering the way U-M’s defense is playing, there may not be much reason to click over to that game during commercial breaks. Orlando, here MSU comes – again!
Key matchup
MSU senior linebacker Greg Jones vs. Penn State senior running back Evan Royster
Two of the best players at their positions in the history of their respective programs will have much to say about the outcome of this game. Royster is Penn State’s all-time leading rusher but has just 831 rushing yards and five touchdowns for a rushing attack that has struggled for stretches. Jones made huge plays to help MSU escape Purdue last week and must be all over Royster and freshman Silas Redd today.
Prediction
How MSU wins: The Spartans come out with their best first quarter of Big Ten play, to keep the crowd and opponent in check emotionally. Kirk Cousins stays in the game and plays like he did in last week’s fourth quarter. And the MSU defense stuffs the run and forces Matt McGloin to move the ball methodically through the air.
How Penn State wins: The Nittany Lions exploit MSU’s pass protection for hits on and turnovers from Cousins. Evan Royster looks like Penn State’s all-time leading rusher on his senior day. And McGloin plays with his usual spark but some caution against an opportunistic MSU defense that has 16 picks this season.
Make it: MSU 24, Penn State 23
This should be a close game. And three months of evidence tells us not to bet against the Spartans in a close game.
There you have it. No personnel/injury questions to be answered today -- other than the big one of whether Kirk Cousins can get through a whole game with his ankle and shoulder. Eric Smith is MSU's honorary captain today. Talk to you after the game.
