Iowa State vs. Iowa Prediction
Will No. 16 Iowa find themselves having any trouble when they host in-state rival Iowa State on Saturday at 7:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Iowa is the favorite in this game, as the Hawkeyes are getting odds of -15 points against the Cyclones. The over/under total for the game is listed at 51 points. The road team has won and covered the spread in five straight meetings between these two.
Iowa opened its 2016 campaign with a 45-21 win over Miami (Ohio) last weekend. The Hawkeyes were unable to cover the 27.5-point spread. Iowa was actually outgained 424-404 in total yards in the win, but forced three turnovers on the defense side of the ball. Iowa relied on its run game, as usual, with Akrum Wadley rushing for 121 yards and two scores on 12 carries while LeShun Daniels Jr. had 83 yards on 10 carries with two touchdowns. C.J. Beathard finished with 192 passing yards and a score.
Iowa State stumbled in its opener, losing to North Iowa at home, 25-20, despite being a 9.5-point favorite. The Cyclones were held to 307 total yards while turning the ball over four times in the loss. Iowa State finished with just 51 rushing yards on 25 carries while Joel Lanning led the offensive effort with 256 passing yards and three touchdowns. The Cyclones allowed Northern Iowa to tally 232 rushing yards as a team.
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This is a rivalry game, but Iowa State showed last week that it has a long way to go to get to Iowa’s level right now. If the Cyclones couldn’t stop Northern Iowa on the ground, they certainly won’t stop the Hawkeyes. In that same breath, if Iowa State couldn’t move the ball against UNI, it’s not going to move the ball very well against a much-better Iowa defense. Look for the Hawkeyes to roll in this one.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 2 PREDICTION: IOWA -15