Iowa State at Iowa odds, picks and predictions

The No. 21 Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0) welcome the Iowa State Cyclones (1-0) to Kinnick Stadium Saturday for the high-profile in-state rivalry game. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Iowa State vs. Iowa odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

Iowa is coming off a 40-0 throttling of the Illinois State Redbirds in Week 1, covering as a 21-point favorite. It is led by former Michigan QB Cade McNamara, who threw for 251 yards and 3 TDs. The Iowa defense held Illinois State to just 56 rushing yards.

Iowa State beat the North Dakota Fighting Hawks 21-3 Saturday in Week 1, failing to cover as a 30-point favorite. The Cyclones didn’t score double figures in any single quarter and were held scoreless in the 3rd quarter. QB Rocco Becht passed for 267 yards and 2 TDs.

Iowa is No. 21 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports

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Iowa State at Iowa odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 4:13 p.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Iowa State +126 (bet $100 to win $126) | Iowa -152 (bet $152 to win $100)
• Against the spread (ATS): Iowa State +2.5 (+102) | Iowa -2.5 (-124)
• Over/Under (O/U): 35.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)

Iowa State at Iowa picks and predictions

Prediction

Iowa 20, Iowa State 10

PASS.

The moneyline value is playable, really for both sides. However, Iowa has consistently come out on top at home and has the better skill players here. Expect it to win and play the spread instead of the moneyline.

BET IOWA -2.5 (-124).

The Iowa offense should prove to be too much Saturday. In its season-opening victory, the Hawkeyes ended with 241 yards on the ground on 40 carries and 251 passing yards. That’s a strong ability to both run and pass. Iowa has won 2 of its last 3 games as the home team in the rivalry as well and has covered this size of a spread in both wins.

Iowa State didn’t cover Saturday and had sub-90 yards rushing. It will be more of a 1-dimensional side and could struggle against a capable defense like Iowa’s. With that in mind, take IOWA -2.5 (-124).

BET UNDER 35.5 (-108).

In the last 5 meetings between these 2, a team has gone north of 20 points just once. In 4 of those 5 meetings, this total would’ve resulted in the Under being the better side, and in 2 of those 5 meetings, there was a team that ended in single digits.

While playing weaker opponents, both sides combined to allow 3 points in Week 1. Expect history to repeat itself and take UNDER 35.5 (-108).

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