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Michigan State Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. Iowa

By Connor Muldowney

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans runs for the game winning touchdown against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans runs for the game winning touchdown against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State football will be hosting Iowa on Saturday evening and here’s everything you need to know.

In a rematch of the 2015 Big Ten Championship, Michigan State football will host Iowa on Saturday evening, looking for its first conference win of the season. The Spartans and Hawkeyes are both coming off demoralizing losses (on different ends of the spectrum) in Week 4.

Must Read: MSU Football: Game-by-game predictions for Big Ten play

The Hawkeyes hosted Penn State and took the Nittany Lions down to the wire before losing on a last-second touchdown. Michigan State, on the other hand, beat itself with three costly turnovers to fall to Notre Dame, 38-18. Both teams are looking for a pick-me-up.

A win Michigan State would push its record to 3-1 and match the win total from all of last season. A loss would send the Spartans spiraling — hopefully not out of control — before the Michigan game on Oct. 7 in Ann Arbor.

Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s Michigan State football game online:

Date: Saturday, Sept. 30
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Venue: Spartan Stadium
TV: FOX
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go

Keys to Victory

For Michigan State to come out on top, it will need to slow down Akrum Wadley and the Hawkeyes’ run game. Wadley is averaging just 4.3 yards per carry this season, but he’s capable of being a home run threat every time he touches it. The linebackers and defensive line need to clog up the running lanes and make life hard on him, forcing Nathan Stanley to attempt to beat the Spartans with his arm.

Offensively, it’s going to be the turnover battle. Michigan State needs to win the turnover battle if it wants any chance of victory. Brian Lewerke needs to avoid silly mistakes and LJ Scott can’t be coughing the ball up again. Win the turnover battle and you win the game.

Next: MSU Football: 5 bold predictions for September

Prediction

Stanley isn’t going to beat the Spartans with his arm, so it’ll be up to Wadley to get the job done. He won’t be able to put up huge numbers against the suddenly-stout MSU defense, which will cause the Iowa offense to sputter. The Spartans will trail 17-14 late in the fourth quarter before LJ Scott gives Iowa fans a horrid flashback by scoring the go-ahead touchdown. The Spartans pick Stanley off to end the comeback effort.

Final Score: Iowa 17, Michigan State 21

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