No. 11 Penn State Football closes out the 2023 regular season, with a possible New Year’s Six Bowl within reach, Friday night against the Michigan State Spartans.
The Nittany Lions will clash with MSU at Ford Field in Detroit, in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, nationally televised on NBC.
For this week version of “Behind Enemy Lines” we spoke to Cory Linsner (@Cory_Linsner) of Spartans Wire part of USA TODAY Sports.
Here’s what to watch in Penn State Football at Michigan State:
Your Initial thoughts on Penn State vs Michigan State
Cory Linsner: Penn State is a good team, obviously not on the level of UM or OSU, but certainly ahead of the rest of the conference.
It’s been an awful year for MSU with all the change coming to the program, not to mention a plethora of injuries. At this point, it’s a sigh of relief we have made it to the end.
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Who on Offense should Penn State be concerned about?
Linsner: Maliq Carr. No questions about it. He is a freak athlete who can make crazy play after crazy play. He missed a big chunk of the middle part of this season, but upon returning last week had 7 for 117 and 2 TDs, he is a matchup nightmare for any defense.
What did you take away from last year’s battle?
Last year’s MSU team and this year’s have very similar vibes, and people forget that last year’s game was 21-16 with under five minutes to go in the contest, so it was a competitive matchup when MSU was playing a lot of backups and freshmen.
For those who don’t follow Michigan State, what makes this matchup very interesting?
Linsner: Both teams have good run defenses and have an old school Big Ten feel to them, tough and hard nosed football. Both team’s also have had their share of offensive struggles, which also has some intrigue, seeing which version of each team’s offense we will get.
Your thoughts about this year’s game being moved to Ford Field?
Linsner: As an MSU guy, I don’t like it. Giving up a conference home game for a neutral site isn’t something I want to get into the practice of doing. I would be more receptive doing it in the non-conference than in a rivalry game. Albeit, it should a fun experience for the fans and will keep everyone out of the cold weather.
What is one reason why Michigan State takes down Penn State?
Linsner: If MSU were to take down PSU, it would have to be in a gritty 16-13, 17-14, type of game where the Nittany Lions turn the ball over a couple of times. Michigan State’s front seven is decimated with injuries, so keeping that unit off the field as much as possible is something that has to happen. But all in all, winning the turnover battle and the TOP battle is about the only way I see MSU pulling this game out.
MORE: Penn State’s Must-Win Matchups at Michigan State
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