Michigan State Football: 5 bold predictions for September 2019

4. Michigan State averages 3.5 sacks per game

A year ago, Michigan State finished with 28 total sacks, averaging 2.2 per game and ranking 55th in the country. While those numbers weren’t bad, the defensive line and linebackers are too good not to surpass those numbers this season.

In September, the Spartans will finish with 14 total sacks after breaking out for six in their opening game against Tulsa which will send them into the month of October with 20 sacks. That will put them just eight off last year’s total with seven games remaining, destined to smack those numbers.

With Kenny Willekes, Raequan Williams and Mike Panasiuk playing the best football of their careers as well as Jacub Panasiuk breaking out and playing like an All-Big Ten star, this defensive line is going to get into the backfield often. Add the fact that Brandon Bouyer-Randle and Antjuan Simmons are perfect blitzing linebackers and Shakur Brown isn’t afraid to come in and hit from the cornerback spot and you have an aggressive defense that will give opposing offenses nightmares.

Plus, what opposing offensive line is going to stop this front-four in the next four games? Certainly not Western Michigan or Arizona State or Northwestern or even Indiana.

Michigan State is going to have a big month, averaging 3.5 sacks per game.