As it attempts to continue its ongoing quest to win out and salvage its New Year’s Six chances, No. 11 Penn State football opened as an 18-point favorite against Michigan State, according to OddsShark. The Land-Grant Trophy matchup currently has an over/under of 53 points.

The Nittany Lions are 8-3 against the spread this season but are currently embroiled in a five-game streak against the spread – covering against Minnesota, Ohio State, Indiana, Maryland, and Rutgers. All of the aforementioned games hit the over, except for the Maryland contest, as James Franklin’s squad stood pat with a 30-0 shutout.

Penn State is 4-6 against the spread in its last 10 games against Michigan State – the same record it has against the Spartans overall in that timeframe. However, the over hit seven times during that span.

Michigan State is 4-6-1 against the spread this year, possessing an 0-4-1 record against the spread in its last five Big Ten East games. In their last 12 road face-offs with Penn State, the Spartans have hit the over on nine occasions.

Even during the team’s monster 55-10 road victory over Rutgers, Penn State was dealing with a litany of injuries. Left and right tackles Olu Fashanu and Caedan Wallace have missed multiple consecutive weeks. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is recovering from appendicitis. Running back Keyvone Lee said he experienced a “minor setback” with whatever is keeping him from the field. Elsewhere, wide receiver Parker Washington’s status is unknown after he failed to make the Nittany Lions’ travel roster against Rutgers.

Michigan State will be missing eight defensive players as a result of indefinite suspensions. The program issued the suspensions after a physical altercation took place following the team’s road game against Michigan. In response to the incident, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said he expected criminal charges to be assessed.

The contest will kick off at 4 pm. on Saturday, November 26, inside Beaver Stadium. Penn State and Michigan State’s regular-season-concluding matchup will be broadcast on FS1.