Miami vs. Iowa Pick
Will No. 17 Iowa roll to a big win when it hosts Miami (Ohio) today at 3:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Iowa is the clear favorite in this game, as the Hawkeyes are getting odds of -27.5 points against Miami (Ohio). The over/under total for the game is listed at 51 points. These two haven’t met since the 2003 season, when Iowa had a 21-3 victory.
Iowa had a surprising 12-2 season last year, which not many saw coming. However, these types of things aren’t uncommon for Iowa. Sometimes they have a double-digit win season, sometimes they struggle to make a bowl. While I don’t think this team will take a big step backward, don’t look for another 12-0 start. Still, C.J. Beathard is back to lead the offense, which should help keep them on a steady track when it comes to scoring. The Hawkeyes are always a physical team on defense, so keep opponents from scoring, especially bad ones, isn’t a difficult thing for them.
Miami (Ohio) is not a MAC opponent to really be afraid of. The RedHawks are coming off a 3-9 season, but something has to change for coach Chuck Martin, as the team isn’t showing many signs of progress. Miami does return its starting quarterback in Billy Bahl, but he has to get much better for the RedHawks to contend for a bowl this season. The RedHawks gave up 32 points per game last year and really struggled to stop the run, allowing nearly 169 yards per contest.
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Iowa isn’t a team that typically blows people out, so the 27.5-point spread is concerning. Can the Hawkeyes simply put up enough points for that to happen? Will Miami find a way to score? Despite being just 3-9 last season, the RedHawks were 7-5 against the spread. They only lost by four to Cincinnati last year in non-conference play, but they also lost 58-0 to Wisconsin. I anticipate that Miami has to be a better team this year. The RedHawks really can’t get much worse. I also anticipate that Iowa won’t be as good this year. History says the Hawkeyes are typically an 8-win team. I look for this game to be a comfortable win for Iowa, but not a 28-point win.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 1 PICK: MIAMI (OHIO) +27.5