The Iowa Hawkeyes get a visit from Big 12 member Iowa State Cyclones, who are seeking to win their first game of the season on Saturday. The Hawkeyes have already given their fans something to cheer for with two straight wins to open the season. As for the Cyclones, will their first win of the season come from a road game after losing their first two at home?
Check out our other previews of next week’s games, including the matchup of Texas and UCLA. While you’re at it, you can also read our detailed breakdown of Georgia versus South Carolina here.
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Iowa State Cyclones vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview and Prediction
[sc:NCAA240banner ]A 0-2 start is obviously, not how the Cyclones would like to open their season. If they are to prevent going down 0-3 on Saturday, they’ll have to defend way tougher than in any of their first two losses, wherein they surrendered unacceptable averages of 33 PPG and 488.5 total yards per game (221.5 against the pass and 267 against the rush) to the North Dakota Bison and Kansas State Wildcats, respectively.
Against the Wildcats, Iowa State’s nondescript defense reared its ugly head late in the game, allowing Kansas State quarterback Jake Waters to run for a game-winning touchdown to lead his team to a come-from-behind 32-28 victory.
Iowa State’s offense fared better last week, particularly because of wide receiver’s Jarvis West’s uncanny versatility; West received for 75 yards with a touchdown, returned a punt for an 82-yard TD, and even had a 29-yard TD pass to Allen Lazard. The do-it-all stud is a bright spot in an Iowa State team that finished 104th in the FBS last season in scoring with an offense that produced just 14.0 PPG.
Since 2004, the Cyclones are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 meetings with Iowa. The Cyclones will hit the road for the first time this season versus Iowa. The over is 5-1 in their last six road games overall, during which they allowed opponents to score a whopping average of 44.5 PPG.
Just like in their first game, the Hawkeyes’ 17-13 win over the Ball State Cardinals in Week 2 was too close for comfort. Iowa failed to cover the double-digit point spread in each of their first two outings, including their match against Ball State, which came to Kinnick Stadium as a 17-point road underdog.
Against the Northern Iowa Panthers a week before, the Hawkeyes had to play all out the entire game, as the Panthers hung tough until the end before taking a 31-23 loss at the hands of the home team.
The defense that lost six starters over the offseason remained generally dependable. It was especially harsh against the run early this season, allowing a total of just 115 yards on the ground in the first two games. But while the rushing defense was consistent thus far, the same can’t be said about the Hawkeyes’ passing defense. Iowa showed susceptibility against the pass when they gave up 380 passing yards to the Panthers in Week 1 before limiting the Cardinals to a measly 129-passing-yard effort the following game.
If the game against Ball State was any indicator, though, the Hawkeyes’ defense should have sorted out any residual chinks in their defense coming into the game versus Iowa State. Against the Cardinals, Iowa never allowed them to set foot on the red zone.
Quarterback Jake Rudock will be the player to watch for the Iowa against the Cyclones. The junior is coming off a 322-passing-yard performance with two TDs against Ball State.
Since last season, the Hawkeyes are 4-1 in their last five games as the home team.
