NCAA FOOTBALL BETTING PREDICTION - MICHIGAN ST SPARTANS @ IOWA HAWKEYES

NCAA Football

2010-10-30 - Michigan St Spartans at Iowa Hawkeyes

A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown

Michigan State Spartans @ Iowa Hawkeyes
Football : United States : NCAA : Week 9
Saturday 30 October 2010 - Kickoff 3:30pm ET
8:30pm (British Standard Time)

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Preview

The Michigan State Spartans (8-0) come to the Kinnick Stadium with the Big Ten title smell in their nostrils. However, they are up against an Iowa Hawkeyes (5-2) team that was in a similar position last season before losing a couple of games in November to cost them their dreams.

The Spartans are ranked as high as Number 5, an outstanding achievement for a team that did not a get a single vote in the Associated Press Poll before the season began. Their 4 games left this season are split with 2 at home and 2 on the road.

Michigan State have based their success around a strong running game and the maturity of Kirk Cousins at QB, but trick plays have helped with wins at Notre Dame and Northwestern.

Michigan State will be missing Defensive Back Chris Rucker who is suspended after being jailed recently.

The Iowa Hawkeyes will know what kind of position the Spartans are in as they were 7-0 when meeting Michigan State last season. On that occasion Iowa won with a late TD and they had won a lot of tight games before losses against Ohio State and Northwestern.

It was Iowa who were faced with a lot of skeptics last season during their unbeaten run with people expecting them to lose, and now it is the Spartans turn to feel that kind of pressure.

Head to Head

Iowa won their meeting last season as I mentioned above, but it is here at home they have proved especially tough for Michigan State to deal with. The Spartans have not won here since 1989 and have lost here fairly comfortably the last 3 times they have met.

The Hawkeyes are 14-5 against the spread against teams with winning records and are 7-1 against the spread against Michigan State in recent matches.

Both teams have played Wisconsin and Michigan this season. The Spartans beat them both, winning both matches against the spread. Iowa beat Michigan but lost to Wisconsin last week, going 1-1 against the spread.

Michigan State are 3-0 on the road this season (2-1 against the spread). Iowa are 4-1 at home this season (3-2 against the spread)

Prediction

Both teams here seem to be matched quite evenly and it could be fascinating to watch. I think people are waiting for Michigan State to fail and so the line has been given as a TD here.

Iowa have been good at home, but lost a close one to Wisconsin, a team Michigan State handled well. This game could be decided by a field goal either way so I will take Michigan State with the points.

The Pick :