Iowa vs. Iowa State game preview, prediction: Who wins, and why?
The 70th edition of a Midwestern football classic returns to the field as the Cy-Hawk series kicks off this weekend and Iowa and Iowa State renew a rivalry that dates back to 1894 in college football's Week 2 action on Saturday.
Iowa is facing a mandate to score at least 25 points per game this season, or else finally part ways with offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, and though it fell 1 point shy of that mark in the opener, the early returns on the new attack are so far, so good in a 10-point win over Utah State, although there is always room for improvement.
Amid an offseason of accusations that players were involved in gambling, Iowa State opened the season with a solid 30-9 win over Northern Iowa. In place of Hunter Dekkers, the Cyclones QB implicated in that scandal, Rocco Becht hit 10 of 13 passes for 77 percent completion and scored twice. Jeremiah Cooper intercepted two passes including a pick-six.
What can you expect from the matchup? Here's what you should watch for when Iowa and Iowa State play their rematch, along with our final Week 2 game predictions.
Iowa vs. Iowa State preview, prediction
Iowa vs. Iowa State prediction, preview
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How to watch
When: Sat., Sept. 9
Time: 2:30 p.m. Central
TV: Fox network
Stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Iowa vs. Iowa State game odds
Courtesy of SI Sportsbook
Line: Iowa -3.5 Track it live
Total: 36.5 points
Moneyline: IA -200 | ISU +150
FPI pick: Iowa State 57.4%
Related: Iowa vs. Iowa State picks, predictions, Week 2 college football odds, lines
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What to watch for
Iowa vs. Iowa State picks, predictions
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1. Battle at the line. Crucial to the Hawkeyes' hoped-for offensive improvement will be their ability to stand firm in protection, but last week's opener didn't go as well as expected. Iowa, which tends to play strong up front, mustered just 2.4 yards per carry against a smaller Utah State front seven. Iowa State picked up five sacks in last week's opener in an overall solid showing and could have an edge here to make the Hawkeye attack one-dimensional.
2. Iowa's big three. The road to 25 points per game starts with new quarterback Cade McNamara, the Michigan transfer who made his debut last week with a two-touchdown performance, and his two primary targets, tight ends Erick All and Luke Lachey. Both combine for almost 1,200 yards receiving with seven touchdown catches in their careers and should create consistent mismatch troubles against undersized defenders. But watch how well McNamara is able to move around in the pocket behind that line and as he deals with a lingering quad injury.
3. Turnovers. Always key in this rivalry as anyone can tell you. Three of the last five intra-state matchups were decided by three or fewer points, with turnovers being key to those results. A year ago, it was an Iowa fumble at the ISU 1 and the Cyclones' 99-yard scoring drive that did it. And two years before, it was a brutal punt return gaffe. The Hawkeyes have an 83 percent win mark when they win the turnover battle under Ferentz.
Iowa vs. Iowa State game prediction
As expected, neither of these offenses will light up the scoreboard, but between the two, it should be the Hawkeyes' attack that comes out ahead. It boasts the veteran quarterback and more experienced and productive receiving options, compared with a younger ISU unit led by quarterback Rocco Becht.
The Cyclones should get some stops against the run and cause problems around the edges of the pocket, but Iowa's defense is the overall superior unit on the field and should have the advantage against ISU's younger attackers.
College Football HQ picks...
- Iowa wins 20-16
- Covers the spread
- And hits the under
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