Michigan State Iowa Betting – Spartans’ Luck Runs Out At Iowa
Sports betting players have watched the Michigan State Spartans surge up the rankings due to a number of second-half comebacks in 2010, and you have to wonder how long they can get away with making poor starts. We’re thinking that the bucks stop at Iowa, where the Hawkeyes will be hungry after falling to another ranked team at home last week.
- What: NCAA football betting
- When: Saturday, October 30th, 3:30 PM ET
- Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
- Pick: Iowa Hawkeyes -6.5
What’s On The Line
The No.5 Spartans (8-0, 4-0) needed another second-half rally to win 35-27 beat the Northwestern Wildcats, while the No.18 Iowa Hawkeyes (5-2, 2-1) lost a heartbreaker, falling 31-30 to the Wisconsin Badgers to lose for only the third time in 19 games at home. This may be the Spartans’ toughest task as the wind winds down, while the Hawkeyes can get back into the Big Ten race with a win over Michigan State, so both have a lot at stake in this game.
Offensive Matchups: Michigan State Iowa Betting
It usually takes a while to get going for the Michigan State offense, but this time they needed two scores in the final two minutes to get past the Wildcats. The Spartans are balanced, coming in 28th in rushing and 34th through the air, which puts them at 22nd overall in the nation, and they’re 27th in points scored. Kirk Cousins is 13th in the country in passer rating, and he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, and he has a solid running game to back him up.
Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi is second in passer rating, and he had a great game against Wisconsin in a losing cause. Like Michigan State, the Hawkeyes are pretty balanced, coming in 38th through the air, and 53rd on the ground, which is good for 43rd in the country. The Hawkeyes are also fifth in turnover margin, four spots better than Michigan State, which means they don’t do a lot of things that go against them.
Betting Edge: Michigan State
Defensive Matchups: Michigan State Iowa Betting
The Spartans are 32nd defensively, but only 18th in points allowed, which means they make the stops they need to make when they need to make them. Michigan State had eight sacks against the Wildcats, and they’re going to need a similar performance against Stanzi, who will pick them apart if he has time. The pass defense is 62nd in the nation, and they’re going to be challenged this week.
The Hawkeyes are 13th defensively and 11th in points allowed, but like Michigan State, the pass defense can be breached as they’re 52nd in the country in that category. They don’t get into the backfield much, choosing instead to try and meet their opposition straight up for a gain of a couple, and the Hawkeyes don’t take many chances, but they’re going to have to pressure Cousins into making some mistakes.
Betting Edge: Iowa
Notable Injuries: Michigan State Iowa Betting
Receiver Keyshawn Martin (foot) left the Northwestern game and will be watched closely this week by the Spartans.
Linebacker Jeff Tarpinian (stinger) missed the Wisconsin game and is questionable against the Spartans.
Betting Edge: Draw
Outlook and Pick: Michigan State Iowa Betting
NCAA football betting odds have the Hawkeyes as a 6.5-point favorite at home, where they have won five straight and are 4-1 ATS against the Spartans in their last five meetings. We’re betting on Michigan State’s luck running out this week, as they get off to slow starts, and they’re going to a very hostile environment. The Hawkeyes will do everything in their power to avoid losing two in a row at home, and the Spartans are going to come up short in another second-half comeback. Take the Hawkeyes with your online betting picks on Saturday.
Blake’s Pick: Iowa Hawkeyes
