Our countdown to kickoff coverage continues with our nine teams in nine days preview series. With just a few days before kickoff, we take a look at Iowa’s hardest opponent to predict, the Michigan State Spartans.
When do they play?
September 30th @ Spartan Stadium
What you need to know:
It’s the first road game of the conference slate, and just the first game the Hawkeyes will play outside the state of Iowa in 2017. It’s been eight years since Iowa last made the trip to East Lansing, a game that ended with one of the most memorable plays in Iowa football history.
That Stanzi to McNutt touchdown catapulted Iowa to the Orange bowl that season, maybe a win in East Lansing could yield a similar result for the Hawkeyes this year.
What do they do well?
Mark Dantonio has done a great job recruiting at Michigan State. The question is will there highly touted talent translate into success on the field like it did in their College Football Playoff appearance in 2015, or will they flop like they did in their nightmare 3-9 season last year?
No team in the Big Ten returns fewer starters that the Spartans, who boast 17 new starters, the most important being sophomore quarterback Brian Lewerke. Michigan state’s receiver’s and tight end’s have combined for just 14 career catches, that puts a lot of extra pressure on the new QB. Mike Dantonio believes Lewerke is up for the task, and he better be right for his own sake.
Prediction
This game will be a great measuring stick for Iowa. Stealing a game away from a respected Big Ten East foe on their own turf would be a big confidence boost early in the season. On the other hand, a loss to an unproven roster coming off a 3-9 season might show Iowa’s weaknesses and quarterback inexperience are more serious than we thought.
Michigan State sacked opposing quarterbacks just 11 times last season, a lack of pass rush will bode well for newly anointed starting quarterback Nathan Stanley. Playing in his first hostile road environment, pass protection and the running game (Sparty gave up 158 YPG on the ground last season) will be key to settling Stanley in. Iowa’s veteran defense will be the best unit Lewerke will have faced by that point of the season, yet another match up that bodes in their favor. Once again, Iowa’s big dogs on the O-line, plus senior playmakers Akrum Wadley and Josey Jewell, should provide enough of an impact to push Iowa over the top.
Final Score- Iowa 24-Michigan State 20