College Football Predictions: Iowa vs. Iowa State Preview

Written by Jake Thompson
Saturday, 10 September 2011 00:59

Hopefully one of our most profitable score predictions will be made in the preview of the Iowa vs. Iowa State game.

The fierce rivalry between Iowa (1-0) and Iowa State (1-0) always makes for some excellent football, and our preview and final score predictions should have everyone on the right side of this interstate clash.  Iowa is on the road but still favored by 6.5, and that was low enough of a line to push close to 75% of tracked college football bettors onto the Hawkeyes.  Although the Cyclones are usually considered underdogs in this series, they have actually managed to cover the point spread in 10 of the last 13 against Iowa.

The Hawkeyes opened up their 2011 campaign with an efficient 34-7 victory over Tennessee Tech, a game in which they were balanced on offense but showed holes on defense.  Iowa lost 3 of their 4 starting senior defensive linemen from last season but this is a team that always produces an above average defense so I’m not overly worried.  New quarterback James Vandenberg threw for 219 yards and 2 touchdowns in the effort and Iowa should be productive but unspectacular on that side of the ball.

Iowa State started their year off with a narrow 20-19 win over Northern Iowa as 7-point favorites, and it might take a little while before the Cyclones get up to speed.  They have a new starting quarterback in Steele Jantz (187 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions in opener) and it will take him a while to get adjusted.  Northern Iowa is a very good team that doesn’t get the recognition they deserve, and that has to be figured into the preview and predictions here.  Iowa State’s defense also lost most of their senior defensive line starters and did a solid job against Northern Iowa despite allowing too many rushing yards.

Predictions in the Iowa vs. Iowa State game call for the Hawkeyes to have the more efficient offense while the defensive side of things is a bit more even.  Since Iowa State is at home I have to expect the game to remain fairly close, but I don’t see any reason why Iowa can’t cover this spread.  That being said, it is a bad idea to bet on a road favorite garnering much of the public’s support when the odds have moved the other way.  I’m staying off the point spread but think a play on the total going over 44 points is worth a wager.  The offensive lines are simply better than the defensive lines here.

Iowa vs. Iowa State Score Predictions:

Iowa 30

Iowa State 23