Denson
Williams is one of the premiere return men in the conference, ranking first with 28.6 yards per kick return and sixth in punt returns with an average of 9.4 yards. Avoiding big returns is something the Spartans have had success with this season. While the booming leg of senior kickoff specialist Todd Boleski and pooch-kicking sophomore punter Aaron Bates are a big reason for that success, it takes a whole unit to shut down returners.
EDGE: Push — There is no denying Williams’ talent, but at the forefront of MSU special teams are junior gunners Ross Weaver and Brandon Denson. That duo, along with freshman cornerback Johnny Adams, are key reasons opposing returners often have to wave fair catch.
This game will feature two of the top running backs in the conference: MSU senior Javon Ringer (1,548 yards, 20 touchdowns) and Penn State sophomore Evan Royster (1,123 yards, 12 touchdowns). Although Ringer’s stats are more impressive than Royster’s, the team numbers overwhelmingly favor Penn State. The Nittany Lions are ranked first in rushing offense (218.3 yards per game) and rushing defense (101.5 yards per game), while the Spartans are in the bottom half of both categories — ninth in offense (147.8 yards per game) and eighth in defense (allowing 148.5 yards per game).
EDGE: Penn State — The numbers speak for themselves, but that’s why they play the game. Penn State’s numbers depend on its “Spread HD” offense, while the Spartans’ yards come on the ground via an old school, pro-style offense. Weather.com is forecasting a few snow showers and 30 degrees for Saturday in State College, Pa., but if it snows more it could be an advantage for MSU.
After struggling against Ohio State and Iowa, Clark bounced back with 240 yards and two touchdowns on 20-for-26 passing last week against Indiana. The 6-foot-2, 231-pound Clark draws comparisons in athletic ability to Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who accounted for 188 total yards and two touchdowns against the Spartans. Against teams who run spread offenses, Denson and Allison have seen most of their time on the field, in part because of their speed.
EDGE: Penn State — The MSU front seven has done a decent job at containing spread offense quarterbacks such as Michigan’s Steven Threet and Purdue’s Justin Siller this season. Unfortunately for MSU, Clark is more Pryor — who the Spartans struggled mightily against — than Threet.
With 19 field goals each, Swenson and Kelly sit atop the Big Ten in terms of field goals made. Kelly has the slight edge in field goal percentage — 82.6 percent to Swenson’s 79.2 — but MSU fans know the three-miss debacle against U-M greatly hurt Swenson’s percentage.
EDGE: MSU — Kelly is a senior and playing in front of the home crowd, but Swenson is one of the most confident players on the team. No matter what the national pundits are saying, this game is for the Big Ten Championship and there will be a lot of emotion involved. If it’s close at the end, the game could come down to the kickers.
-Compiled by Cash Kruth
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