Iowa vs. Minnesota Prediction
Can you trust Iowa as a road favorite when it takes on Minnesota today at Noon ET on ESPN2?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Iowa is a slight favorite on the road, as the Hawkeyes are getting odds of -1 point against the Golden Gophers. The over/under total for the contest has been listed at 50 points. Iowa has won three of the last four meetings in this series, but the Gophers are 5-2 against the spread in the last seven meetings.
Iowa had another slip up last week, suffering a 38-31 loss at home to Northwestern to fall to 3-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes are also just 1-4 against the spread this season. Iowa is giving up only an average of 18.4 points and 364.6 yards per game on the season, but the defense was absent last week against the Wildcats, as they allowed three scoring drives of 75 yards or more against a pedestrian Northwestern offense. Iowa’s offense is putting up just 341.6 yards per game but averaging 30.6 points. Iowa is led by its ground game, as LeShun Daniels Jr. and Akrum Wadley have combined for 682 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. C.J. Beathard has added 945 passing yards with nine touchdowns.
Minnesota is coming off its first loss of the season, a 29-26 OT defeat at the hands of Penn State. The Gophers are now 3-1 on the year, 0-1 in the Big Ten and 1-2-1 against the spread. Minnesota is putting up 36.3 points and 439.8 yards per game on offense thanks to a strong rushing attack. Rodney Smith is leading the way with 402 yards and five touchdowns rushing. QB Mitch Leidner has thrown for 840 yards and five touchdowns as well. The Minnesota defense is giving up 26 points and 378.3 yards per game, struggling through the air, as it is allowing 255.3 passing yards per contest.
NCAA FB QUICK LINKS: Scores & Matchups | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Betting Trends | ATS Stats | Standings
What can we make of Iowa. Have the Hawkeyes already fallen far from their 12-0 start of 2015? It’s one thing to lose, but Iowa hasn’t looks that great since the 42-3 win over Iowa State. They lost to North Dakota State, which is a good team, but then struggled to beat Rutgers and gave up 38 points to Northwestern. Now the Hawkeyes hit the road to face Minnesota, a team that is 17-7 at home since 2013 and 12-5 since 2014. Minnesota might not be the most talented, but the Gophers are scrappy. Giving them points at home against a struggling team seems like a mistake.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 6 PREDICTION: MINNESOTA +1