College Football GameDay Match-Up: (19) Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Iowa State Cyclones Week 3 Preview, Prediction & Best Bet

Jason Radowitz shares his College GameDay Best Bet for 19 Iowa vs Iowa State.

Last week I decided that I would be previewing and giving the best bet for the College GameDay Game of the Week. Last week I recommended taking the LSU Tigers -6.5 against the Texas Longhorns on the road. They won by 7.

I’m now 1-0 with my College Gameday Picks and I’ll be giving you my best bet for each College GameDay game this season. (I might…. Just must have a winning record. And you might … want to take a look at this pick. I have a feeling that it’s going to be a winner.

This week, 19 Iowa Hawkeyes will be visiting Iowa State Cyclones for the Cy-Hawk Trophy. Iowa is coming off a nice win against Rutgers at home while Iowa State is coming off a bye week after an upset scare against Northern Iowa. 

Iowa

Quarterback Nate Stanley has been consistent for Iowa during his career. He threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns against a Rutgers defense that was coming into the game having people thinking they’ve improved. Iowa’s offensive line has always been one of the top priorities for Iowa and it has showed in the last two weeks.

Iowa has run the ball well through the first two weeks, thanks to their offensive line, averaging over five yards per carry. Iowa State, however, has allowed 1.1 yards per carry in their opener against Northern Iowa. 

Iowa’s defense in anchored by A.J. Epenesa who is projected to be a top NFl draft pick next season. He had 10.5 sacks last season, forced four fumbles, and had 16.5 tackles for a loss. He was a big reason why Iowa was able to complete the shutout against Rutgers. 

Iowa State

Iowa’s defense has held their opponents to 3 yards per rush. Rutgers, for example, has two premier running backs that were stopped in their tracks. Iowa State is inexperienced in their backfield and will likely have trouble finding holes against Iowa’s defense in the running game. 

There’s a lot of hope for quarterback Brock Purdy after what he showed last season but he was shaky in their win against Northern Iowa two weeks ago. Purdy had trouble getting out of the pocket against Northern Iowa. Adjustments will be made for Iowa State. Purdy can run and he can be a runner but it seemed like Iowa State became too conservative in the first game of the season. 

He’ll have to play against that aggressive Iowa defense. It might not be pretty for most of the game. 

The Verdict

I don’t think Iowa State’s Week 1 struggle was due to jitters. It was poor play-calling and flat out poor play offensively. As long as Iowa prevents big plays from Iowa State, I think this game stays low scoring with both defenses showing up to play. The over/under is set at 44.5 and I like the under here.

Iowa State has had two weeks to prepare for this game. Iowa is coming off a shutout win against an improved Rutgers team. I’m not sure who will win the Cy-Hawk Trophy, but I do believe that whoever wins the game, won’t have many points. Go with the under 44.5 here.

Latest Offers

Latest News

2023 Masters Preview: Favorites, Contenders & Sleeper Picks

Our best 2023 Masters bets for the first major of the PGA Tour season, from the favorites to the top sleeper picks.

Best MLB Closers 2023: The MLB’s Bullpen Aces for 2023 Fantasy

The best closers in baseball all have one thing in common, opportunity. We look at the best options for your MLB Fantasy in 2023, plus some history of the game’s greatest.

The 7 Best March Madness Betting Promos 2023: Get $2,000+ in Bonuses

The best March Madness betting promos for you to take advantage of when placing your college basketball wagers in March.

Who Has the Best Online Casino Welcome Bonus?

Which online casino has the biggest welcome bonus? It's the question that everyone wants to know, and we have some insight.

How to Play BetRivers Basketball Squares Game for NBA & NCAA

BetRivers Basketball Squares adds entertainment value and more ways to win on game day. Here's how you can play today.

More Articles Like This