3 biggest things to watch for Penn State at Michigan State
The Penn State Nittany Lions (9-2, 6-2) will look to cap off the regular season with a win against the Michigan State Spartans (4-7, 3-3) on Friday at 7:30 PM in East Lansing. Penn State will be seeking their tenth win, which would give them their first back-to-back ten win seasons since 2016 and 2017. After a 27-6 win over Rutgers helped them rebound from the Michigan loss, what should fans watch for this week?
Who will the Penn State Nittany Lions start at quarterback?
Despite the win a big takeaway is concern due to the injury to sophomore quarterback Drew Allar. Allar left in the second quarter with an upper body injury. The TV tape showed having trouble lifting his arm above his head due to the pain. He did not return.
Beau Pribula came in to replace Allar, and he finished the game. Still, Pribula threw just one pass as Penn State held on via the ground game. James Franklin said that the injury was not serious, but playing on a Friday means that Allar gets one less day to rest and recover. Will Allar play, or will Pribula get his first start of the season?
Can Penn State lean on the run game to beat the Michigan State Spartans?
As noted, Pribula did not lead a high-octane passing attack. However, he does bring a lot to the ground game that Allar does not. Pribula had eight rushes for 71 yards in the win over Rutgers. It is clear that he brings a mobility element that is a new addition to the offense.
Kaytron Allen added 16 rushes for 69 yards and Nick Singleton had 11 rushes for 61 yards. Between Pribula, Allen and Singleton the Penn State Nittany Lions rushing attack could be lethal in the final game of the season.
What Bowl will the Penn State Nittany Lions play in this year?
Michigan State is having a down season, and Penn State sits as heavy favorites. A win gets them to 10 wins, and most media outlets are projecting that. So, if the Nittany Lions do win, where would they head for their bowl game this year?
Almost all projections say they will be playing in the Fiesta Bowl or the Peach Bowl this year. The Peach Bowl will be December 30 and the Fiesta Bowl will be a New Years Day game. The Peach Bowl will be in Atlanta, Georgia, while the Fiesta Bowl will be in Glendale, Arizona. Keep an eye on how the Nittany Lions do this weekend, and whether they end up in one of these bowls, or a different game altogether.
