{"id":1629,"date":"2016-09-29T08:30:36","date_gmt":"2016-09-29T12:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordoncollegefootball.com\/?p=1629"},"modified":"2017-12-30T15:41:58","modified_gmt":"2017-12-30T20:41:58","slug":"iowa-better-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2016\/09\/29\/iowa-better-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Iowa is a Better Team Than Michigan State"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2015, Michigan State<\/strong> beat an undefeated Iowa<\/strong> squad in the Big Ten Championship<\/strong>\u00a0to advance to the College Football Playoff<\/strong>. Iowa would go on to lose to Stanford<\/strong> in the Rose Bowl<\/strong>. Michigan State got shut out by Alabama<\/strong> in the Cotton Bowl<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

After Iowa lost to Michigan State and then Stanford, many counted them out once again and called them overrated. Perhaps they’re the wrong team being marked as overrated.<\/p>\n

Iowa is a Better Team Than Michigan State<\/h2>\n

Michigan State got to the Big Ten Championship Game after Michigan<\/strong> punter Blake O’ Neil<\/strong> fumbled the snap on a punt in the closing seconds of their in-state rivalry game. Michigan State recovered the fumble and returned it to the end zone to give them the win.<\/p>\n

So for those saying that Iowa is overrated and Michigan State is a much better team than the Hawkeyes,<\/strong> look back at how Sparty<\/strong> got to the College Football Playoff – a fumbled snap on a punt. Iowa may have gotten dominated by Stanford in the Rose Bowl, but they went up against Christian McCaffery<\/strong><\/a>, who was a Heisman<\/strong> favorite last season and is again this season.<\/p>\n

While one may make the case that Michigan State went up against the top defense in the nation in Alabama, but their offense led by quarterback Connor Cook<\/strong><\/a> could not score a single point.<\/p>\n

Iowa is Not Overrated<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This past weekend, Iowa lost to North Dakota State<\/strong> and the sports world went crazy. Many said that this proved that Iowa was an overrated team. What they don’t realize is that North Dakota State<\/strong> is a five-time repeating FCS National Champion<\/strong>. Not only that, but NDSU has won six straight games against FBS<\/strong> opponents. It’s not fair to count out Iowa in being on of those teams.<\/p>\n

In their first two games, Iowa forced four turnovers, and outscored Miami (OH)<\/strong> and in-state rival Iowa State<\/strong> 87-24. Also, in their opener against Miami (OH), they rushed for 212 yards on just 29 rushing attempts. On defense, the Hawkeyes only allowed 158 rushing yards on 41 attempts.<\/p>\n

Against Iowa State, the Hawkeyes outnumbered the Cyclones in total yards 435-291.<\/p>\n

Michigan State is Overrated<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As far as Michigan State goes, they almost blew a 36-7 lead over a Notre Dame<\/strong> that has depleted over the course of the season. Notre Dame started the season as the #10 team in the country.<\/p>\n

After a loss to Texas<\/strong> in Week 1, they fell to number 18. They’ve since lost to Duke<\/strong> at home. The Fighting Irish were a 21-point favorite in that game. In retrospect, Michigan State almost blew a 36-7 lead over a team that lost to a 21-point underdog.<\/p>\n

Last weekend, the Spartans lost to a Wisconsin<\/strong> team that was almost upset by Georgia State<\/strong> the week before. Not only did Michigan State lose that game, but Wisconsin dominated them in East Lansing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Even in their opener against Furman University<\/strong>, they committed more turnovers than Furman did.<\/p>\n

Iowa may not beat the Spartans in a rematch of the Big Ten Championship Game<\/strong>, but they are the better team overall between the two.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

\n
Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n