Penn State vs. Iowa Total Pick
Will defense be the story for No. 4 Penn State and Iowa when the two Big Ten foes open up conference play on Saturday at 7:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Penn State is the favorite on the road in this game, as the Nittany Lions are getting odds of -12.5 points against the Hawkeyes. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 52.5 points. Penn State has won three straight in this series and the two have hit the over in their last two meetings. Saturday’s game will take place from Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa and air live on ABC.
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Penn State has looked about as good as anyone three weeks into the season. The Nittany Lions have beaten Akron, Pitt and Georgia State by a combined score of 141-14. Still, Penn State is 2-1 with the under, probably due to defense. The Nittany Lions are holding opponents to just 273.7 total yards through three game. On offense, PSU is putting up 469 yards per game. Trace McSorley has thrown for 753 yards and nine touchdowns while also rushing for 137 yards and two scores. Saquon Barkley is adding 307 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Iowa is off to a 3-0 start as well with wins over Wyoming, Iowa State and North Texas. The Hawkeyes are 2-1 with the under as well, as they bring a respectable defense to the field. Iowa is allowing just 19.3 points and 335 yards per game this season. The run defense has been really good, allowing just 97 yards per game on the ground. Offensively, Iowa is averaging 33 points and 398.3 yards per game. Nathan Stanley has thrown for 655 yards and 10 touchdowns this season while Akrum Wadley has run for 258 yards and a score. He is dealing with a leg injury, but expect to play Saturday. James Butler, who has run for 158 yards, is out with an elbow injury.
Penn State has looked great through three games, but the Nittany Lions have faced three teams not known for being great defensively. That changes this week and I suspect there will be a bit of a due awakening on Saturday. Iowa’s defense should be able to make things hard on Penn State, especially at Kinnick Stadium. Penn State’s defense should be able to match that effort on its end. Iowa’s offense certainly isn’t very dynamic. Iowa has hit the under in five of its last six at home and I think it will do it again on Saturday.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: PENN STATE/IOWA UNDER 52.5