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Michigan State Football: 5 bold predictions vs. Iowa in Week 5

By Connor Muldowney

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans reaches into the end zone against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans reaches into the end zone against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 23: Running back Akrum Wadley #25 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter in front of cornerbacks Tariq Castro-Fields #5 and Grant Haley #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 23, 2017 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 23: Running back Akrum Wadley #25 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter in front of cornerbacks Tariq Castro-Fields #5 and Grant Haley #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 23, 2017 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

3. Akrum Wadley held under 75 yards

Iowa’s Akrum Wadley is a scary runner. He’s one of the Big Ten’s best running backs and has 338 yards and two touchdowns on 79 carries this season. While his yards per carry average is down a considerable margin from last year’s, he still has the talent to turn things around, and could very well do so against Michigan State.

However, Michigan State’s run defense won’t allow it. On top of getting decent pressure on Nathan Stanley to record four sacks, the line will clog up running lanes and the linebackers will come up to stop Wadley if he does find an open hole.

Michigan State has one of the best run defenses in college football this season and it showed against Notre Dame despite allowing over 150 rushing yards. The Fighting Irish, however, have one of the best run games in the country, led by Brandon Wimbush, Josh Adams and Dexter Williams.

If Michigan State can slow that trio down, imagine what it can do against Wadley. The last time he faced Michigan State (2015), Wadley had five carries for just 14 yards. He will have a better game this time, rushing for 72 yards on 17 carries. That’s a win for the Spartan defense.

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