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Michigan State vs Iowa preview, predictions, betting odds, live stream info

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 27, 2015; Lincoln, NE, USA; The Iowa Hawkeyes celebrate their victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Iowa won 28-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2015; Lincoln, NE, USA; The Iowa Hawkeyes celebrate their victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Iowa won 28-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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No. 5 Michigan State Spartans vs. No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes

Meeting for the first time in the past two years, Michigan State and Iowa will be playing each other for the Big Ten title and a chance to make it to the College Football Playoff. With the Spartans No. 5 and the Hawkeyes ranked No. 4, the winner of this game is basically guaranteed a bid to the playoff.

So much will be on the line in Indianapolis on Saturday as the Spartans will be playing in their third Big Ten title game since 2011 and the Hawkeyes will be in their first. Mark Dantonio has done a masterful job with a ‘less talented’ group of players than he had a year ago and Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz is the Big Ten Coach of the Year.

College GameDay will be in attendance for this one and this will be the most interesting of all conference championship games with the most on the line.

Details for Saturday’s Michigan State vs Iowa game are below:

Date: Saturday, Dec. 5
Start Time: 8:17 p.m. ET
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium
TV Info: FOX
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: For Michigan State radio affiliates, click here. For Iowa radio affiliates, click here.
Ticket Info: For Michigan State ticket info, click here. For Iowa ticket info, click here.

Keys to Victory

Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State needs to trust Connor Cook. If and when the game is on the line, not trusting his arm would be a mistake. He needs to have a solid game as well against one of the better defenses he will face all year. As long as Aaron Burbridge can find a way to gash Desmond King and Co., the Spartans might have a long day.

Defensively, slowing down Jordan Canzeri’s rushing attack will be key. Michigan State held Ezekiel Elliott to under 40 yards just two weeks ago and they can do it again. If they slow Iowa’s ground game, the Spartans should have a great chance to win.

Iowa Hawkeyes

Desmond King needs to prove to be one of the best cornerbacks in the country in this one with the tough task of shutting down Aaron Burbridge. If he can somehow slow Burbridge down, the Spartans’ passing attack will struggle a bit to find other wide outs.

C.J. Beathard needs to also take advantage of a struggling MSU secondary as the Spartans have given up big yardage to solid quarterbacks all year long such as Nate Sudfeld and Christian Hackenberg. If Beathard can protect the ball and reach the 250-yard mark, the Hawkeyes will have a good chance.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Michigan State -3.5
Moneyline: Michigan State -168, Iowa +148
O/U: 51

Prediction

Michigan State and Iowa will play a physical game and it will be Big Ten football at its finest. Nice and low-scoring through the first half only to have Connor Cook break out in the third quarter for a big touchdown drive to start. The Spartans and Hawkeyes will play a close, defensive matchup all game long and the Spartans will win by two scores because of a game-clinching garbage-time touchdown run by LJ Scott.

Final Score: Michigan State 34, Iowa 20

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