Bragging Rights on the Line in Game of Biblical Proportions

In 1993, Michigan State hosted Penn State and renewed a rivalry that had been on ice since 1966. Up until that point, the Spartans owned the Nittany Lions with

In 1993, Michigan State hosted Penn State and renewed a rivalry that had been on ice since 1966. Up until that point, the Spartans owned the Nittany Lions with a 8-1-1 record. That was accomplished, though, largely before the emergence of Joe Paterno, who, in his second game as a head coach, came to East Lansing in September of ’66 and got roundly trounced 48-8 by a Duffy Daugherty squad that went on to win a National Championship.

Some 40-odd years later, Joe Pa is still ticking, and the tables have turned a bit. Since ‘93, PSU has been the dominating force on the gridiron, compiling a 12-4 record against MSU.

Despite the lopsided win-loss columns, the rivalry has grown into one of the fiercest season-ending match-ups in the Big Ten, especially now that MSU has become an ascending power. Two years ago, MSU took care of business in Spartan Stadium, beating a talented Paterno-led squad 35-31, giving MSU a 7-5 regular season record in coach Mark Dantonio’s inaugural season (and Paterno’s 41st, by the way.)

While last season’s game in State College, Penn., was not as competitive, with the 10-1 Lions (ranked number 7) spanking MSU 49-18 to seal a BCS bid, it does set the stage for a payback game tomorrow in East Lansing. For MSU (6-5), who is already bowl eligible, the talk is of achieving a winning record for the third-consecutive season, and not just achieving parity with a .500 mark at 6-6. In fact, Dantonio is putting metaphysical weight on the game.

“For the people who are spiritual and understand the Bible and you look at the number seven, it means completion,” the head ball coach said earlier this week. “Right now, we have an opportunity to win seven games, and that's important for this program.”

Recent trends appear to favor the Spartans. While they might not be rolling over the Lions in recent seasons, the overall record between the programs is 13-12-1, favoring PSU. But what’s even more encouraging is that the home team has won 11 of the past 13 contests. And on senior day, when 19 Spartans will don the green and white for the final time in Spartan Stadium, MSU has extra incentive.

MSU also has a recent history of November wins (6-2 under Dantonio.) But the perfect November has been elusive, and to finish strong, on national TV, mind you, MSU will be hungry to make 2009’s November a 3-0 campaign.

The Spartans, who average 31 points per game, should be able to score with Penn State, which averages nearly 29. Where MSU will need to buckle down to keep the game within reach is in its own secondary. While Penn State allows 178 yards through the air on average, the Spartan secondary is much softer, giving up an average of 245 yards per contest.

Starters Chris L. Rucker (BC), Jeremy Ware (FC), Danny Fortener (FS) and Trenton Robinson (SS) will be tested early and often by Lion senior quarterback Daryll Clark, who sits right behind Spartan QB Kirk Cousins (149.7) as the second most efficient signal caller in the Big Ten with a 139.7 pass efficiency rating.

For MSU, a bowl game is all but in the bag, but the Spartans sure would like to make this November special and send their seniors out on a winning note with a nationally-viewed victory over a strong Penn State program.