A Week 3 battle with Youngstown State is next up on the docket for Michigan State football as the Spartans aim to begin 3-0 for the second straight year under Jonathan Smith.
Unlike last year, though, Smith is going to make sure that the wheels don't fall off this time. The Spartans were 3-0 to begin the 2024 season before losing to Boston College in the fourth game of the season and then completely falling apart, going just 2-7 in the final nine games.
This year feels different, however. The Spartans have avenged that loss to Boston College, and they're led by what seems to be a much-improved Aidan Chiles.
So, without further ado, let's dive into some bold predictions for Week 3's matchup.
1. Jack Velling finally has a day
Through two games this season, Jack Velling has been a ghost. In fact, he's taken a back seat to Michael Masunas on the stat sheet, and it feels like even freshman Jayden Savoury is gaining traction while the senior has been stuck in the mud.
Those tires will start gaining traction on Saturday afternoon, however, as Velling will have his first big game of the season, finally showing that he's not a forgotten weapon on offense.
Velling will finish with five catches for 56 yards and a touchdown.
2. Aidan Chiles mistake-free again
There has been only one instance this year in which I thought Aidan Chiles did a poor job of protecting the football, and that was on one of his fumbles against Western Michigan. The second fumble against Western was more of a blocking issue, as Brandon Tullis completely whiffed on a blitzer, allowing him to get a free shot at Chiles' blindside.
Chiles was darn near perfect against Boston College, and I think that continues in Week 3 as he stays out of the interception column and adds four more touchdowns to his season total.
The junior will finish with 242 passing yards, 35 rushing yards, and four total scores.
3. MSU has three rushers with more yards than Beau Brungard
Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard has been one of the best dual-threats in the FCS this season so far, accounting for over 400 yards on the ground in two games. He's averaging a whopping 204 rushing yards per game, and that has sparked the offense in a big way.
Michigan State is going to hold him to under 50 yards on Saturday, however. Brungard has shown that he wants to run first, so containing him is a priority for the staff.
On top of that, Michigan State has been running the ball well this season, and that will continue with a 100-yard performance for Makhi Frazier right after his birthday, along with 70 yards for Brandon Tullis, and almost 40 yards for Aidan Chiles. All three will out-rush the FCS's top dual-threat.