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Michigan State Football: 5 bold predictions for November 2021

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III, center, celebrates his touchdown with teammates, from left, Jayden Reed and Kevin Jarvis as Michigan's Daxton Hill, far right, looks on during the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.211030 Msu Michigan 089a
Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III, center, celebrates his touchdown with teammates, from left, Jayden Reed and Kevin Jarvis as Michigan's Daxton Hill, far right, looks on during the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.211030 Msu Michigan 089a /
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Oct 30, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) passes the ball during the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) passes the ball during the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Payton Thorne throws 10 touchdown passes with just one pick

This may seem like a wild prediction considering the Spartans are still going to face Penn State and Ohio State, but Payton Thorne played fairly well against both last season and didn’t seem to be all that fazed by the fact that they’re elite Big Ten programs.

Thorne is a year older with eight more starts under his belt since facing Penn State last year and nearly pulling off the win (a defensive meltdown in the second half was the difference) so I think he’ll be more than ready for the Nittany Lions in the final week of the season. And that’ll come after a solid performance against an Ohio State defense that has given up some yards and points this season.

In his first eight games, Thorne has thrown 15 touchdown passes to six interceptions and four of those picks have come over the past two games. He’s going to correct that recent turnover issue.

Michigan State needs to have a positive turnover margin in the final month to really take control of the Big Ten East and make a playoff run, and Thorne knows that.

I think we’ll see Thorne average about 2.5 touchdown passes per game and he’ll only throw one pick as he finishes the regular season with 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

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