Place: East Lansing, Mich.
Time: 7 p.m. Saturday
TV: Big Ten Network
Line: Pick ‘em
Three reasons Iowa will win
Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn is becoming a terror off the edge for opposing quarterbacks.
1. Turnover karma: The Hawkeyes enter the game plus-11 in turnover margin, and their 22 takeaways rank first among BCS schools. Ball control issues have beset Michigan State all season, leaving it minus-4 in the same department. The coaching refrain of “win the turnover battle” sure favors Iowa, even on the road. MSU QB Kirk Cousins has proven interception-prone against good teams (remember the last drive at Notre Dame), and the Hawks average better than two picks per game.
2. D-line playmakers: Iowa brought back eight starters on defense this year, but the departed included defensive tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul. As always, though, the Hawkeyes managed to fill the holes with little drop-off. Karl Klug and Christian Ballard have held up against the run, and Adrian Clayborn and Broderick Binns look like stars-in-the-making at end (and on special teams, in Clayborn’s case). Iowa needs those guys in the MSU backfield Saturday night.
3. Road warriors: Maybe the best thing that could happen to the Hawkeyes is to fall behind 10-0 early. Penn State and Wisconsin placed Iowa in such …
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