The Pinstripe Bowl features Michigan State and Wake Forest and is set to kick off at 3:20 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 27 at Yankee Stadium.
How They Got Here: Michigan State
Michigan State finished 6-6 with a Big Ten record of 4-5. They had high expectations due to their heavily experienced team. They were in the top 25 for a couple of weeks before collapsing late in the season.
Brian Lewerke led the Big Ten with 234 completions, with his favorite target being receiver Cody White, who secured 58 catches for a team-best 825 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Elijah Collins had a solid season as a redshirt freshman, rushing for 892 yards and five touchdowns and earning All-Big Ten third-team honors.
Michigan State’s defense took a big blow when senior linebacker, Joe Bachie, was suspended for the entire season for PEDs. He had led the Spartans in tackles the past two years.
How They Got Here: Wake Forest
Wake Forest got off to a very hot start, but losses to Syracuse, Clemson, and Louisville derailed a very promising season as they finished 8-4 with an ACC record of 4-4.
Wake Forest ranks behind Clemson in several ACC categories, including points per game (32.8) and yards per game (473.4). Led by quarterback Jamie Newman, they led the ACC in passing yards per game with 297.8.
Sage Surratt was a key feature of the Wake Forest offense. He led the conference with 111.2 receiving yards per game before a season-ending injury. Since his injury, Wake Forest would lose two of the final three games of the regular season.
Players To Watch:
Michigan State: Brian Lewerke
In his final football game as a Spartan, and probably his final football game ever, Lewerke looks to finish on a high note. With so much promise, he never lived up to expectations. This is his time to make one last memory in the Spartan uniform.
Wake Forest: Who Ever Plays QB
Jamie Newman went down in the regular-season finale against Syracuse. The report is that the plan is for him to play, but whoever plays QB for Wake Forest will be key. It’s actually simple, if the QB plays well, hell even just ok, they will beat this team.
Gambling: Mich St -3.5 O/U 50
I’m taking Wake Forest +3.5. I think Michigan State is flat out terrible. Since losing Bachie to a suspension, they have zero identity on defense. Also, Lewerke is one of the worst QBs I’ve ever seen at the college level. Hammer Wake Forest +3.5.