EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- This is as good as it can get for Michigan State coach Nick Saban.

And he wasn't talking about Michigan State's 49-3 victory over Iowa on Saturday.

	Plaxico Burress beats Tarig Holman for one of his three TDs.

For two weeks, Saban warned fans and the media not to look ahead. With Iowa brushed aside, Saban immediately cast his eye on next Saturday's showdown with fourth-ranked Michigan (5-0), which beat Purdue 38-12.

"There are going to be a lot of good players on the field and this is a big game for both teams," Saban said. "That's the way I like it."

The No. 14 Spartans (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) were just about as good as they can get on Saturday. Bill Burke threw four touchdown passes and Plaxico Burress snagged three scoring strikes.

"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."

Michigan State moved almost at will against the Hawkeyes, balancing its rushing and passing in building a 35-0 halftime lead. Iowa (1-3, 0-1) had little luck moving the ball against the Spartans, who haven't 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 play host to No. 2 Penn State next week.

The game was over by halftime, by which time Michigan State had already begun substituting. Michigan State had a 345-26 edge in yardage and a 19-1 margin in first downs.

Michigan State set a school record with six touchdown passes and Burke and Burress tied school marks.

Michigan State moved 71 yards in six plays, grabbing the lead on Burke's 32-yard pass to Burress. Burke was 12-of-14 for 150 yards.

Burke and Burress combined again on a 10-yard TD, Burke then hit Gari Scott for a 20-yard score and Chris Baker on a 2-yarder.

Ryan Van Dyke connected with Burress for a 10-yard TD in the second quarter.

Iowa's points came on a 30-yard field goal by Tim Douglas.

Van Dyke added a 35-yard TD pass to Herb Haygood and Cedric Henry went 70 yards on a punt return.