No. 14 Spartans Pound Iowa

October 2, 1999 / 4:39 PM EDT / CBS/AP

This is as good as it can get, Michigan State coach Nick Saban said after his team beat Iowa 49-3 Saturday.

And he wasn't talking about the win over Iowa.

After two weeks of warning fans and the media not to look ahead, Saban couldn't help but do so immediately after Saturday's game to next Saturday's game against Michigan, also 5-0, in a game for Big Ten status and bragging rights in Michigan.

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"There are going to be a lot of good players on the field and this is a big game for both teams," Saban said of next week's collision with Michigan. "That's the way I like it. This is as good as it can get."

The Spartans were just about as good as they can get on Saturday, as they shellacked Iowa 49-3. Bill Burke threw four touchdown passes and lanky split end Plaxico Burress snagged three scoring strikes to lead Michigan State.

"That was probably our best half of football, in the first half," Saban said. "I think our team has progressed very nicely, and I think one of the things we haven't done well until today is execute on all cylinders."

But Michigan State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) was hitting on all cylinders Saturday as it moved almost at will against the Hawkeyes, as its balanced ground and passing attacks built up a 35-0 halftime lead. Iowa (1-3, 0-1 Big Ten) had little luck moving the ball against the Spartans, who have not given up a touchdown on the ground this season.

"It is very disappointing to open the Big Ten season with a performance like this, but we have to bounce back," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "I wish I could give you an explanation, but we just need to go back to the drawing board and work on our mistakes."

"I have been in this situation before, and it is very frustrating, but the only thing you can do is prepare for your next game."

It doesn't get much easier for Iowa, either. The Hawkeyes host Penn State next week.

This game was virtually over by halftime, as Michigan Stathad begun substituting at key positions. Iowa managed only one first down, compared to Michigan State's 19, and totaled only 26 yards in offense in the half, compared to 345 for Michigan State.

In the half, Michigan State tied school records for most touchdown passes in a game (five), most touchdown passes by a player (Burke, four), and most touchdown receptions by a player (three by Burress).

The Spartans later broke the first record, notching a sixth TD pass.

Michigan State moved 71 yards in six plays to grab the lead, capping it with a 32-yard pass from Burke to Burress. For less than two quarters play, Burke hit on 12 of 14 passes for 150 yards and four touchdowns.

With Iowa unable to mount an effective attack, Michigan State used a steady drive to notch another Burke-to-Burress touchdown. This one was from 10 yards out.

Burke later hit flanker Gari Scott for a 20-yard touchdown pass, and connected with right end Chris Baker for a two-yard scoring strike. In the second quarter, Ryan Van Dyke hit Burress for a 10-yard TD pass play.

Iowa finally got on the board in the third quarter, with a 30-yard field goal by Tim Douglas. Van Dyke found flanker Herb Haygood for a 35-yard touchdown, and Cedric Henry raced 70 yards for another MSU score on a punt return.