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NCAA Football

Week 8: Hawkeyes vs. Spartans Preview/Pick

Oddsmakers currently have the Spartans listed as 1½-point favorites versus the Hawkeyes, while the game’s total is sitting at 42½, here is a preview for the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan State Spartans plus a pick and lines betting angle…

Week 8 Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan St. Spartans

Date: Saturday October 24, 7:00 p.m. EST
Site: East Lansing, MI
BetUS LINE: Pk

Preview:

The Hawkeyes are currently the class of the Big Ten, but they have some daunting road games coming up to test their mettle.

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This week’s trip to Spartan Stadium should be a test, but Iowa is always a testy road competitor as it relies on its Top 25-ranked defense and special teams. Iowa has already weathered a tough game vs. Michigan, defeated a surprisingly strong Wisconsin team and handled Penn State easily. Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeyes must ensure that they do not take their foot off the gas versus MSU or they will slip up.

Michigan State, on the other hand, got off to an atrocious start, sitting at 1-3 before they squeaked past bitter rival Michigan in OT. However, this team has guys that can make a difference on both sides of the ball and quarterback Kirk Cousins has been notably efficient thus far, establishing a good rapport with senior Blair White (45 rec. for 635 yards and 6 TDs for White). Cousins will be challenged this week by a stout Iowa defensive line, led by overachieving end Adrian Clayborn. If Iowa’s D-line can create pressure and eat up space, the Hawkeyes’ underrated linebacker corps will fly around the field and make plays.

The past couple weeks, the Spartans have handled middle-of-the-road conference opponents Northwestern and Illinois, but they haven’t yet faced a test like Iowa. The Green and White faithful will be buzzing for this one, but if Iowa’s defenders play like they should and improving quarterback Ricky Stanzi can remained composed and productive, the boys from Iowa City should be able to swindle a road win in East Lansing. However, this is contingent on the Hawkeyes remaining focused, playing hard and not looking ahead to looming opponents like Ohio State.

2009 Team Stats: Total Offense: Iowa: 79th, Michigan State: 32nd

Total Defense: Iowa: 22nd, Michigan State: 44th

Trends:

Iowa is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Iowa is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Iowa is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Michigan State
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Iowa’s last 6 games when playing Michigan State
Michigan State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
Michigan State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Iowa
Michigan State is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Michigan State’s last 6 games when playing Iowa

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James has been naming every player on the EA Sports NCAA video game rosters for half a decade now, he’s finally putting his knowledge to better use writing for us here at CappersPicks.com. As always you’re comments are welcome below…Give Us Your Take!

By James Hayes

James has been naming every player on the EA Sports video game rosters for half a decade now, he’s finally putting his knowledge to better use writing for us here at CappersPicks.com. Your comments are welcome below…Give Us Your Take!