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The Iowa Hawkeyes will take on the Iowa State Cyclones in a huge rivalry matchup on Saturday morning. It's time to continue our college football odds series and make an Iowa-Iowa State prediction and pick, based on the Iowa Iowa State odds available.
This is one of the biggest games of the seasons for both teams. Iowa started of the season by blowing out a ranked Indiana Hoosier team, and now they have a chance to knock off a top-ten opponent. A win for the Hawkeyes could push them as high as sixth place in the rankings. Iowa State, on the other hand, did not have a great start to the year. The Cyclones scraped out a win against Northern Iowa in a game that should have been a blowout from the start. Head coach Matt Campbell needs to get his team back on track, and a win against a strong Iowa team would be a great way to put his team back in playoff contention.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the lines for Saturday's matchup.
CFB Odds: Iowa-Iowa State Odds
Iowa Hawkeyes +4 1/2 (-108)
Iowa State Cyclones -4 1/2 (-112)
Over 45 1/2 points (-115)
Under 45 1/2 points (-105)
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Why Iowa Could Cover The Spread
The Hawkeyes boast one of the best defenses in all of college football. It was the case last season and it should be the case once again this year. Iowa managed to hold Indiana and star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to six points while forcing three turnovers. The defense also racked up five tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries to go along with six passes defensed. The Hoosiers only managed 77 yards on the ground, making this the most complete defensive effort from any team in the nation in week one besides the Georgia Bulldogs. The Cyclones looked poor on offense last week, and this Iowa defense won't give them any breathing room. Expect another slow offensive showing for Iowa State.
The Hawkeye offense was also far more efficient than anyone expected them to be in week one. Running backs Tyler Goodson and Ivory Kelly-Martin both averaged more than five yards per carry behind a fantastic offensive line, and quarterback Spencer Petras didn't make any costly mistakes. With a defense as good as Iowa's, that offensive game plan is enough to beat a lot of teams.
Why Iowa State Could Cover The Spread
Despite what their poor performance against Northern Iowa might suggest, the Cyclones have the offensive firepower to be one of the nation's best offenses. Quarterback Brock Purdy is a strong and steady presence, running back Breece Hall is a superstar, and tight end Charlie Kolar is one of the best tight ends in college football. This unit performed poorly in week one, but they have too much talent to continue to play badly.
While the offense didn't meet expectations last week, the defense answered the call. Northern Iowa only managed to rack up 275 yards throughout the entire game while turning the ball over twice. Even more encouraging is the fact that the Cyclones only allowed 45 yards on the ground. Linebacker Mike Rose leads this defense that figures to be better than expected against the run. The defense may not be elite, but they do match up well with Iowa.
Final Iowa-Iowa State Prediction & Pick
This has potential to be the best game of week two. It should be a close one no matter what, so taking Iowa to cover is the best play. Iowa State looked terrible on offense last week, and this defense allows absolutely no room for error. As long as the Hawkeyes are mistake free on offense, they should cover at the very least.
FINAL PICK: Iowa Hawkeyes +4 1/2 (-108)
