When Kenneth Walker III transferred from Wake Forest to Michigan State, few experts could’ve known how well his arrival would work. He’s now a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate playing on a possible playoff team.
This week, Walker III leads the Michigan State Spartans to Columbus to face the Ohio State Buckeyes. What are the current college football odds for this Week 12 matchup, and how well will Walker III play?
Read on for an in-depth analysis of a game that feels like a Michigan State Spartans running back versus the world.
Kenneth Walker III Stats
Kenneth Walker III transferred to Michigan State from Wake Forest and has quickly become one of the most dominant backs in the nation. In ten games, he’s already had ten more carries than he did in two years with the Demon Deacons. I believe he belongs in the same league as Big Ten legends Le’Veon Bell and Saquon Barkley.
Through Week 11, Walker III has rushed for over 1,400 yards and 17 TDs. Compare those numbers to Bell’s junior season. In 2012, Bell rushed for 1,793 yards and 12 TDs.
Bell’s yards per rush topped out at 4.7 after 13 games. Through 10 games, Walker III’s yard per rush is 6.5.
Big Time Performances
The Michigan State Spartans beat their in-state rival Michigan in Week 9 matchup and kept the historic Paul Bunyan Trophy. More accurately, Kenneth Walker III beat Michigan.
Michigan jumped to a first-quarter 10-0 lead. That’s when Kenneth Walker III put the Spartans on his back. He rushed for 197 yards and all five Michigan State TDs.
Walker III now holds the record for most rushing TDs in a single game versus Michigan, and it shows he delivers in the big moments.
Ohio State is a Step Above
Kenneth Walker III’s performance against Michigan was impressive, but he regressed against Purdue. The Boilermakers limited him to a respectable 136 yards but only one TD.
Ohio State is on a different level. The Buckeyes have a talented defense that allows only 107.3 rushing yards per game. They also boast an explosive offense that can get up on Michigan State in a hurry.
The bookmakers know this and have the Buckeyes listed as a -18.5 favorite.
The Buckeyes QB C.J. Stroud will feast on a weak Michigan State pass defense that gives up an average of 329.4 yards per game.
By going up early, Ohio State will force Michigan State to abandon the run.
How Many Touchdowns for Kenneth Walker III?
Walker’s fantastic season may hit a roadblock this week, but I still expect him to produce. Ohio State’s explosive offense will force Michigan State to pass more, so I believe Walker III will have fewer touches this week.
That said, head coach Mel Tucker has to dance with who brought him. I predict Walker III to score over 2 TDs this week.
Place Your Prop Bets
Do you like Kenneth Walker III to explode against Ohio State this week? The Spartans face a massive challenge this week, but Walker III loves big games.
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