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Michigan State Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2022

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 30, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) celebrates with teammates during the fourth 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) celebrates with teammates during the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 9, 2021; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Tre Mosley (17) attempts to catch a pass in front of Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Tre Avery (21) during the first half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2021; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Tre Mosley (17) attempts to catch a pass in front of Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Tre Avery (21) during the first half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

Bret Bielema has shown flashes of what he can do at Illinois, but I’m not convinced that he can fully turn the program around. He’s a solid coach who found a ton of success at Wisconsin, but Illinois and the Badgers are not the same tier of program.

Illinois struggled a little last season and until the Illini find a quarterback to lead that offense who isn’t constantly getting hurt, I don’t think they’ll be much of a threat.

Michigan State should roll here, but this could be a tricky one.

Final Score: Michigan State 37, Illinois 20 (7-2, 4-2)

From one perennial bottom-dweller to another, Michigan State will come home from Champaign to face a Rutgers team that wants revenge for the 2021 drubbing in Piscataway.

Michigan State doesn’t have Kenneth Walker III to run all over the Scarlet Knights this time, but I think Payton Thorne has a huge game. Thorne will throw for 350 yards and Jayden Reed will have over 100 along with Keon Coleman and it’ll be a comfortable win for the Spartans here.

Final Score: Rutgers 13, Michigan State 35 (8-2, 5-2)

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