Penn State vs. Michigan State

                                                                                         

Nittany Lions -15 1/2 vs. Spartans

Not everything is in Michigan State's hands on Saturday. The Spartans must rely on their bitter in-state rivals, Michigan, to beat a heavily favored Ohio State team on the road in Columbus for the Spartans to have a shot at the Rose Bowl.

But Michigan State (9-2, 6-1) has to take care of their own business first, which will be quite a hurdle. Their inability to beat a ranked team is the reason they are in this position, losing to Ohio State at home, just over a month ago, which extended their winless streak against ranked opponents to 10 and now they will have to try and beat a number seven Penn State team in a place in which they have not won since 1965: Happy Valley.

Since joining the Big Ten in 1993, Penn State and Michigan State have forged a rivalry. They have played each other every year in the traditional rivalry season-ending game and play for the Land Grant Trophy, but despite playing in Happy Valley every other year, the Spartans have not won there since the Nittany Lions became conference mates. The Spartans may be concerned with their lopsided losses at Beaver Stadium which are by an average of 22 points, but they should be even more concerned with their poor home showing against the other co-conference leaders, Ohio State when they were bombed at home 45-7.

Michigan State has not won the Big Ten on their own and gone to the Rose Bowl since 1987. Even if the Wolverines can not pull off the upset and the Spartans prevail in Happy Valley, Michigan State will have a share of the Big Ten title for the first time since 1990 and be headed for a New Years Day bowl game in Florida.

For Penn State (10-1, 6-1), it's simple: win and you win the Big Ten and a BCS bid which will more than likely be the Rose Bowl. Rumors are rampant that this could be Joe Paterno's swan song so that will likely fuel some momentum for the Lions, despite the disappointment of their 24-23 loss at Iowa two weeks taking them out of BCS title contention.

The Rose Bowl could still be a sight for sore eyes for the Penn State football program. When they entered the Big Ten, many thought they would dominate, but they have only played in one Rose Bowl, in 1994. Penn State rebounded nicely with a 34-7 victory over Indiana while Michigan State was off after a 21-7 win against Purdue.

Penn State has won seven of the last ten matchups against Michigan State dating back to 1998, however the Spartans won last year with a thrilling come from behind victory at Spartan Stadium 35-31.

InSpin.com

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