header pic

Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

The 'Old' CFN/Scout Crowd- Enjoy Civil discussion, game analytics, in depth player and coaching 'takes' and discussing topics surrounding the game. You can even have your own free board, all you have to do is ask!!!

Anyone is welcomed and encouraged to join our FREE site and to take part in our community- a community with you- the user, the fan, -and the person- will be protected from intrusive actions and with a clean place to interact.


Author

Topic: Penn State (4-5, 7-5) at #12 Michigan State (7-2, 10-2) Post Game

 (Read 2666 times)

ELA

  • Global Moderator
  • Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Posts: 20355
  • Liked:
Penn State Nittany Lions (4-4, 7-4) at #12 Michigan State Spartans (6-2, 9-2)
3:30 - East Lansing, MI - ABC
The health status of Michigan State's skill position players makes this one nearly impossible to predict.  Kenneth Walker III is banged up, only got 6 carries last week, and his status to even play is in doubt.  Their top 2 receivers are both still out, as Nailor still has a cast on his hand, and Jayden Reed spent the second half last week in a boot.  No word on starting LT Jarrett Horst, who hasn't played since the Michigan game.  Defensively, both cornerbacks were already out for the season, and top lineman Jakub Panasiuk, middle linebacker Quavarius Crouch, and top safety Xavier Henderson all finished last week in street clothes.  The roster turnover at the top has been remarkable in Year 1 to Year 2 for Mel Tucker, but I think we are starting to see how flimsy the depth remains.  This isn't a new problem, even at the height of Dantonio, he was doing a great job mining MAC level recruits and turning them into Big Ten starters; but behind them were MAC level recruits...for a reason.  I said preseason that I thought receiver was the deepest on the team, so I'm actually more comfortable with those guys stepping up.  Keon Coleman was the true freshman we heard the most about in fall camp, and I'm surprised we hadn't seen more of him previously.  He scored the one touchdown against Ohio State, on a hell of a catch.  But Penn State's defense is no joke, particularly the secondary.  To have any sort of game against that back four, down his three best weapons, Peyton Thorne is going to have to have his best game of the season.  Penn State's concern isn't injuries, but a team wide flu outbreak, that impacted the team last week in a win over Rutgers that stayed too close for too long.  21 players, including 4 offensive line starters, missed the game.  Even without Panasiuk and Crouch, the Spartans front can be formidable at time, when you don't have 3 NFL receivers running free almost immediately on every play.  You would assume you wouldn't still be suffering from ailments a week later, but who knows how close to 100% they'll be in terms of physicality and conditioning after that.  There are so many unknowns, so I'll give the edge to Penn State having better depth, and a chance that more of their guys will be back.
PENN STATE 21, MICHIGAN STATE 20

« Last Edit: November 27, 2021, 07:04:20 PM by ELA »

Mdot21

  • Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Default Avatar
  • Posts: 14379
  • Liked:
Re: Penn State (4-4, 7-4) at #12 Michigan State (6-2, 9-2) Game Week
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2021, 12:20:07 PM »
I like Penn State in this one. Dotson will go off and if Franklin has half a brain he'll let Clifford go bombs away all game long.

Brutus Buckeye

  • Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Posts: 11250
  • Liked:
Re: Penn State (4-4, 7-4) at #12 Michigan State (6-2, 9-2) Game Week
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2021, 12:23:47 PM »
Gut check time for Sparty. Do they come out guns blazing? Or are they licking their wounds? 
1919, 20, 21, 28, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 42, 44
WWH: 1952, 54, 55, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 67, 68, 70, 72, 74, 75
1979, 81, 82, 84, 87, 94, 98
2001, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

Mdot21

  • Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Default Avatar
  • Posts: 14379
  • Liked:
Re: Penn State (4-4, 7-4) at #12 Michigan State (6-2, 9-2) Game Week
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2021, 12:29:41 PM »
Gut check time for Sparty. Do they come out guns blazing? Or are they licking their wounds?
Penn State needs the win way more than MSU imo. 8-4 with a chance to be 9-4 after a bowl is a lot better than 7-5 and a chance to be 7-6 after a bowl game. Franklin is in year 8 and coming off a 4-5 season. And they just signed him to a 10 year extension and PAID him- he needs every W he can get his hands on right now. 

Even at 9-3- Tucker in year 2 at 9-3 from where he inherited that program and being 2-0 vs Michigan- dude still playing with house money. 

Mdot21

  • Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Default Avatar
  • Posts: 14379
  • Liked:
Re: Penn State (4-4, 7-4) at #12 Michigan State (6-2, 9-2) Game Week
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2021, 12:31:50 PM »
I will say- that I think the game will be very close- because Franklin is one of the worst in-game situational football coaches I think I've ever seen. Even if the passing offense is clicking and they are torching the MSU secondary- Franklin will find a way to keep it a close game- so MSU will have their opportunities to snatch it and get the W.

ELA

  • Global Moderator
  • Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Posts: 20355
  • Liked:
Re: Penn State (4-4, 7-4) at #12 Michigan State (6-2, 9-2) Game Week
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2021, 02:05:11 PM »
Penn State needs the win way more than MSU imo. 8-4 with a chance to be 9-4 after a bowl is a lot better than 7-5 and a chance to be 7-6 after a bowl game. Franklin is in year 8 and coming off a 4-5 season. And they just signed him to a 10 year extension and PAID him- he needs every W he can get his hands on right now.

Even at 9-3- Tucker in year 2 at 9-3 from where he inherited that program and being 2-0 vs Michigan- dude still playing with house money.
Needs?  Maybe

But I think from a recruiting point, PSU is what it is.  Win or loss, PSU is in the Outback, or Las Vegas, or whatever.  With a loss, MSU is probably Citrus or Outback.  With a win, they are probably in an NY6 bowl, I think that's a big sell in Year 2, whether or not we care.

Mdot21

  • Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Default Avatar
  • Posts: 14379
  • Liked:
Re: Penn State (4-4, 7-4) at #12 Michigan State (6-2, 9-2) Game Week
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2021, 02:06:45 PM »
Needs?  Maybe

But I think from a recruiting point, PSU is what it is.  Win or loss, PSU is in the Outback, or Las Vegas, or whatever.  With a loss, MSU is probably Citrus or Outback.  With a win, they are probably in an NY6 bowl, I think that's a big sell in Year 2, whether or not we care.
do the bowl games really matter any more with the playoff format? 

FearlessF

  • Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Posts: 37746
  • Liked:
Re: Penn State (4-4, 7-4) at #12 Michigan State (6-2, 9-2) Game Week
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2021, 02:32:22 PM »
for bragging rights between two decent programs, yes

SCOREBOARD!!!
"Courage; Generosity; Fairness; Honor; In these are the true awards of manly sport."

Abba

  • Player
  • ****
  • Default Avatar
  • Posts: 995
  • Liked:
Re: Penn State (4-4, 7-4) at #12 Michigan State (6-2, 9-2) Game Week
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2021, 02:36:50 PM »
The coveted Land Grant Trophy is at stake here.  This is a top 20 Big Ten rivalry.

ELA

  • Global Moderator
  • Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Posts: 20355
  • Liked:
Re: Penn State (4-4, 7-4) at #12 Michigan State (6-2, 9-2) Game Week
« Reply #9 on: November 24, 2021, 02:59:50 PM »
do the bowl games really matter any more with the playoff format?
Matter?  The results, nah.  I think from a recruiting standpoint, an NY6 bowl, like the Fiesta or Rose, still means something vs. the Outback

From a viewing standpoint, I'd rather be on NYD.  I have no idea what the format is, but personally I'd rather be in the Citrus or Outback than whatever NY6 bowl is on December 30

Mdot21

  • Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Default Avatar
  • Posts: 14379
  • Liked:

bayareabadger

  • Legend
  • ****
  • Default Avatar
  • Posts: 7872
  • Liked:
Re: Penn State (4-4, 7-4) at #12 Michigan State (6-2, 9-2) Game Week
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2021, 12:49:47 AM »
do the bowl games really matter any more with the playoff format?
Ehh, you're trying to impress 17-year-olds. If you're after the kind of kids a lot of our schools are after,r you can pitch it as being a thing. 

Mdot21

  • Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Default Avatar
  • Posts: 14379
  • Liked:
Re: Penn State (4-4, 7-4) at #12 Michigan State (6-2, 9-2) Game Week
« Reply #12 on: November 25, 2021, 01:04:43 AM »
Ehh, you're trying to impress 17-year-olds. If you're after the kind of kids a lot of our schools are after,r you can pitch it as being a thing.
Eh. I don't know. I tend to think the bowls matter less and less. Which is why you've seen consolidation in recruiting- kids all want to go to the playoff now and are only going to like 4-5 teams right now if they get those offers. which is why I'm all for expanding the playoff- it will make it harder for those 4-5 schools to get consolidation power in recruiting- kids will know they'll have a playoff opportunity if they go to other schools. you'll probably see it go to 12-16 teams in the very near future.

Cincydawg

  • Oracle of Piedmont Park
  • Global Moderator
  • Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Default Avatar
  • Posts: 72026
  • Oracle of Piedmont Park
  • Liked:
Re: Penn State (4-4, 7-4) at #12 Michigan State (6-2, 9-2) Game Week
« Reply #13 on: November 25, 2021, 07:35:15 AM »
126 teams won't make the playoffs.  Getting an NY6 invite is a nice consolation prize, and then the merit depreciates rapidly.

But tis better obviously to be 9-4 than 8-5.  The 6-6 teams could claim a winning season, if they win theirs.  It's about spin.

 

Support the Site!
Purchase of every item listed here DIRECTLY supports the site.