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Michigan State Football: 3 bold predictions for Western Kentucky battle

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State's Payton Thorne, left, hands off to Kenneth Walker III against Nebraska during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210925 Msu Nebraska 157a
Michigan State's Payton Thorne, left, hands off to Kenneth Walker III against Nebraska during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210925 Msu Nebraska 157a /
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Sep 25, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) jogs off the field during the third quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) jogs off the field during the third quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Payton Thorne out-duels Bailey Zappe

Does this sound crazy? Good, I want it to.

Payton Thorne has gotten off to a special start to his first season as QB1 for the Spartans but he is fresh off a tough game against Nebraska where he couldn’t even muster a first down in the second half. He knows that he must be better and Nebraska’s defense was one of the best he’ll see all year.

Luckily for Thorne, Western Kentucky’s defense is nowhere near as good as Nebraska’s, so we’re going to see him sit back and pick apart the Hilltoppers’ secondary for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns with no picks.

On the flip side, Bailey Zappe leads the nation’s No. 2 passing offense and he has over 1,200 yards in three games this season, but the Spartan secondary will pick him off a couple of times and he’ll be held to his season-low in passing yards (which will be less than 365). Zappe will still throw at least a couple of touchdown passes, but Thorne’s line will be much more impressive.

Plus, Michigan State will keep him far below his 10.3 yards per attempt average as he may need 40-50 passes to break 300 yards.

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