2-Minute Drill — Michigan State Spartans

IOWA RUSH OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN STATE RUSH DEFENSE

HAHAHA! This might be the most athletic defensive line Mark Dantonio has had during his run at Michigan State. HAHAHA! Yes, Michigan State has had a brilliant run of front seven defensive players, but, no, really, stop laughing. It's true. This might be the best collection of athletes the Spartans have put together on the D-line.

Defensive end Shilique Calhoun (6-5, 250) is the headliner. The first-team pick of the coaches and media, has 39 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, three pass deflections, 17 QB hurries and a blocked field goal. He's joined by a pair of five-star recruits in sophomore nosetackle Malik McDowell (6-6, 275) and senior DE Lawrence Thomas (6-4, 305). McDowell is that guy on your high school team who was your fastest 400-meter hurdler and, of course, your best candidate to play noseguard. He's long, lean and quick. The McDowell matchup with Iowa center Austin Blythe is front and center Saturday night.

Behind that group is another Bullough. Riley Bullough (6-2, 230) is the latest in a long line of Bulloughs to play linebacker at MSU. Bullough and inside LB Jon Reschke (6-2, 228) will attack the inside ‘A' gaps regularly, letting McDowell and DT Joel Heath (6-3, 293) use their quickness to penetrate the line and make plays in the backfield.

The Spartans are fifth in the Big Ten in rush defense (118.7 yards per game), but are the top team in the Big Ten East and dominated Ohio State three weeks ago, holding the Buckeyes to 86 yards on 29 carries (2.97 yards per and OSU's lowest rush output since 35 in a loss to Michigan State in 2011).

Iowa has found a way to run the ball at every turn this season, averaging 203.6, its best mark since 2002. Iowa placed its three inside O-linemen (Blythe and guards Jordan Walsh and Sean Welsh) on all-B1G teams. Against Pitt (which is MSU's defense under first-year Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, the Spartans' former defensive coordinator), the Hawkeyes managed 105 yards and three rushing TDs.

This is a toss-up. Iowa could have an advantage on the inside if it catches the Spartans slanting to the line of scrimmage. Trust issues or whatever, Iowa will need to have sophomore RB Akrum Wadley deep in this game plan.

Advantage: Push

IOWA PASS OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN STATE PASS DEFENSE

Man, did Nebraska light up the Spartans secondary. Tommy Armstrong Jr., the same QB you watched throw four picks last week, smoked the Spartans for 19 of 33 for 320 yards, a 9.7 yards per attempt, two TDs and only two interceptions. With that, the Spartans bid for a perfect season burned down, 39-38.

Well, forget that secondary. It's long gone. The starters against Nebraska were cornerback Demetrious Cox, true freshman safety Grayson Miller, true freshman safety Khari Willis and true freshman cornerback Tyson Smith. Starting corners Arjen Colquhoun and Darian Hicks returned from injury. Sophomore safety Montae Nicholson (a 6-2, 220-pounder who finished sixth in the Big Ten indoor track and field championships last winter) lost his starting job, but regained focus and found his way back to the lineup.

Cox is the lone holdover from the Nebraska debacle, and he's been moved to safety. Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio knew when this group came together over the course of the last three games that MSU's defense had a shot to reach its standard.

In its last three games, the Spartans' secondary has allowed 53 of 99 for 524 yards (5.2 yards per attempt) with three TDs and five interceptions. The game was mightily affected by weather, but MSU held Ohio State to 46 passing yards (it put up only 91 with a backup QB).

Strongside linebacker Darien Harris (6-0, 220 senior) is MSU's top playmaker in pass coverage. He plays the run along the line of scrimmage and short passes in a hybrid role as linebacker and defensive back. McDowell leads the Spartans with 4.5 sacks, but, on passing third downs, the Spartans come with zone blitzes, often bringing six rushers.

One of the hidden improvements of Iowa's offense this season has been the quick passing game. Part of that is QB C.J. Beathard's arm (a lot actually) and part of it is execution among Iowa's top three WRs, Matt VandeBerg (59 receptions), Tevaun Smith and Jacob Hillyer. This can slow a pass rush, change what safeties are keying on and imitate a running game.

Iowa could find some constriction in two-TE sets, a dominant personnel group for the Hawkeyes this season. This could help with numbers in the running game and, potentially, punish overreaction to the run by linebackers or safeties. The matchup of VandeBerg, who works mostly out of the slot, against MSU's safeties could be a telling one for Iowa success here.

Advantage: Push

IOWA RUSH DEFENSE VS. MICHIGAN STATE RUSH OFFENSE

Michigan State's offensive line glided into 2015 with a ton of expectations. And why not? First-team all-B1G center Jack Allen and second-team left tackle Jack Conklin were returning. Sophomore guard Brian Allen was back after a promising freshman season. It all fell apart in the first quarter against Oregon, when right tackle Kodi Kieler suffered an injury. He returned four weeks later, but in the interim, Conklin missed two games and Jack Allen suffered an injury.

Basically, Michigan State wasn't able to get its opening game O-line on the field at the same time from first quarter of game 2 to last week against Penn State. That's the span of pretty much a whole season and six different OL lineups.

As you might imagine, the numbers reflect this. The Spartans are No. 8 (80th in the nation) in the league with 159.6 rushing yards a game (3.99 per carry). Let's look at the last three weeks, when the OL was closer to being itself and, really, with sophomore Gerald Holmes ID'd as the top running back: MSU has rushed for 141, 203 and 188 against Maryland (No. 9 in the league in rush defense), Ohio State (No. 7) and Penn State (No. 8).

Holmes (6-0, 216) is the Spartans' No. 2 rusher (behind freshman L.J. Scott, 618 to 521). In MSU's last four games, he's averaged 91.5 all-purpose yards, including 100 yards on 15 touches against Penn State last week. The Spartans are like Iowa in that they call on four tailbacks who offer different skill sets. Holmes is a do-it-all type. Smith (6-0, 233) is an MSU prototype with tough yards. Delton Williams (6-1, 228) can take it between the tackles. Madre London (6-1, 216) is working himself into MSU's downhill style. The overall production for the foursome is 1,618 yards and 22 TDs.

Iowa's defense has found some unexpected depth in the front seven in recent weeks. It probably can't afford, however, to lose senior defensive end Nate Meier, who was out for the final nine minutes of last week's victory at Nebraska. Ferentz termed it a 'soft tissue” injury. Redshirt freshman Matt Nelson replaced Meier. Nelson has improved when called for more and more snaps late this season, but Iowa probably can't afford to have two redshirt freshmen defensive ends starting (Parker Hesse was named to the all-freshman this week by BTN) in the Big Ten championship game.

Outside linebacker Ben Niemann suffered a head injury against Nebraska and went through ongoing concussion protocol this week. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said he practiced on Tuesday and is planning on Niemann being in the lineup.

If Iowa is down two starters, it'll be a lot easier for the Spartans to find the cohesion they might've lost after so many weeks and so many lineups.

Advantage: Iowa

IOWA PASS DEFENSE VS. MICHIGAN STATE PASS OFFENSE

Michigan State QB Connor Cook suffered a sprained throwing shoulder Nov. 14 against Maryland. He sat out for the Spartans' gigantic game at Ohio State (obviously a College Football Playoff elimination game), but returned last week to help MSU clinch the Big Ten East with 248 passing yards and three TD passes against Penn State.

Cook has a strong arm and is the total QB, a projected first-round NFL pick with a 33-4 record as a starter and MVP performances in the 2013 Big Ten title game and Rose Bowl. Cook has climbed every mountain in front of him. He showed no ill effects of the shoulder injury against Penn State, but the Spartans were hardly pressed. Cook will need his velocity back to normal against an Iowa secondary that led the B1G with 17 interceptions (including four last week against Nebraska).

Cook has seen everything from Big Ten defenses. Iowa's mode this season has been zone coverage with man-to-man on the outside. (According to this Big Ten Network post, Iowa is cloud coverage in the boundary and quarters to the field.) Cook will need underneath and mid-range game to uncork zone (which MSU hasn't seen much of since Oregon). That brings receivers McGarrett Kings and R.J. Shelton into the plan. Quicker receivers can find spots in zones. Still, senior Aaron Burbridge, the receiver of the year in the Big Ten with 75 catches for 1,158 yards and seven TDs, is always capable of blowing the top off the zone and giving Cook a deep threat.

Dantonio mentioned earlier this week that he did plan to reach out to Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi. The Spartans' former defensive coordinator's team fell on a last-second field goal in Kinnick this season. Ferentz has never mentioned that type of thing, but Iowa does have some ties to the Oregon staff. Former Iowa DL coach Ron Aiken is DL coach there and former Iowa player Erik Chinander is outside linebackers coach. The Ducks kept Cook in check with just 192 passing yards.

Iowa cornerback Desmond King has said he's undecided about entering the NFL draft before his senior season next year at Iowa. This week, King, who leads the Big Ten with eight interceptions, was named one of five Walter Camp Award finalists and won the Jack Tatum Award.

King has interceptions and awards. A big performance here might seal the deal, and if it does, so be it. If Iowa gets a big performance out of King in the B1G title game, it might be in the national semifinals.

Advantage: Michigan State

SPECIAL TEAMS

Michigan State has won two games with special teams plays this season. Let's see if you can recall them from the top of your head. OK, yes, there was that fumbled punt snap return for a TD on the game's final play at Michigan. That one left a mark in Ann Arbor. How could you forget kicker Michael Geiger's windmill (??) celebration after he hit the 41-yard game-winner on the final play at Ohio State? It was the biggest play in the Big Ten and one of the biggest in the country this season.

Geiger hit only 9 of 14 field goals this season. The Spartans return units also have been prone to big mistakes (a muffed punt proved costly at Michigan).

In the field position department, the Spartans might have a slight edge in punter Jake Hartabarger over Iowa's Dillon Kidd (a 42.3 average over a 40.9).

Kicker Marshall Koehn hasn't attempted a field goal in three weeks, but he does have the 57-yarder to beat Pitt on his resume (13 of 17 this season). King will be the most accomplished punt and kick returner on the field. He finished second in the Big Ten in both return categories and was a conference honorable mention as a return specialist.

Advantage: Iowa

INTANGIBLES

1. Big game hunters

- The Spartans have been playing for their CFP lives since a Nebraska receiver may or may not have run out of bounds or been helped out of bounds in a 39-38 loss to the Huskers. Michigan State kept that from being the call that shaped the Big Ten in 2015 with its victory at Ohio State. It followed that breakthrough with a dismantling of Penn State to clinch its spot in Indy. Cook said MSU has had a 'killer instinct” the last few weeks. It's kind of had to. Big Ten teams don't get to lose twice and stay in the CFP hunt.

2. Been here, done this

- This is Michigan State's third Big Ten championship game. Mark Dantonio gets his mail at Lucas Oil. Everyone Michigan State who was polled agreed that, yes, the Spartans have an experience edge. Doesn't block, doesn't tackle, but this is a spotlight that Iowa hasn't seen since maybe the 2010 Orange Bowl. Still, it doesn't block and it doesn't tackle.

3. The Shoulder Chip Bowl

- Dantonio has built his program (empire, really, seriously) on fighting blue-blood Michigan and his home state Ohio State. He stares laser beams on the blue-blood topic. Hey, so does Ferentz. You could argue that the Hawkeyes made it to a pair of BCS bowls on the strength of victories over Michigan and Penn State. When Iowa won its last Big Ten co-championship in 2004, it beat Ohio State. Michigan State writers joke about Dantonio always scouring for that chip. Maybe the fact that Iowa was on the Sports Illustrated regional cover last week? Ferentz and the Hawkeyes haven't had to go looking for shoulder chips. It's been raining shoulder chips in Iowa City since Iowa entered the CFP rankings in November.

IOWA WILL WIN IF ...

Iowa has ridden excellent efficiency numbers on offense this season. That's kind of kept the Hawkeyes going this month. The offense has picked up the defense because it's stayed in manageable down-and-distance situations. The Iowa defense will need at least five stops Saturday. It also will need to keep 20-plus plays in check. If Iowa's defense can reach that number of stops, hold the Spartans to less than five 20-plus plays, you have to figure the Hawkeyes can come out on top in the turnover battle and they will win.

MICHIGAN STATE WILL WIN IF ...

The Spartans have the best defensive front in the Big Ten. If it knocks the Hawkeyes off schedule on offense - let's say it holds Iowa to less than 4 yards a carry - that's huge trouble for Iowa. Beyond that, if Cook and Burbridge click on some deep passes, the Hawkeyes' fishing boat will be taking on more water than it can handle.

PREDICTION:

Michigan State 31, Iowa 27

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com