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Michigan State Football: 3 reasons Spartans can upset No. 3 Ohio State

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III takes the handoff from Payton Thorne on a run against Maryland during the fourth quarter on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.211113 Msu Maryland 147a
Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III takes the handoff from Payton Thorne on a run against Maryland during the fourth quarter on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.211113 Msu Maryland 147a /
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Nov 13, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Kenneth Walker III (9) during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Kenneth Walker III (9) during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Kenneth Walker III

In my reasons to be optimistic post ahead of the Ohio State game post, I used Kenneth Walker III as a reason. And he’s also a reason Michigan State could pull off the upset.

When you’re as good as Walker is, you can change a game almost single-handedly — just ask Michigan. Walker took over against the Wolverines, rushing for 197 yards and five touchdowns in his “Heisman moment” on Oct. 30. He’s going to need another big game here if Michigan State wants to pull off this upset and I think he’s good for it.

Ohio State hasn’t faced a running back quite like Walker yet this year and he may actually be the best player overall that the Buckeyes have seen.

Let’s say Walker rushes for over 150 yards and a couple of touchdowns, Michigan State will likely be in this game. It’s when the Spartans are forced to go away from the run (Purdue loss) that they struggle. They can’t get down by so much that Walker is completely taken out of the game.

If he has a big day, I like Michigan State’s chances.

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