We have a cross-state showdown this Saturday to highlight college football Week 2 action, with No. 21 Iowa hosting Iowa State in the Cy-Hawk rivalry game. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET at Kinnick Stadium, and the game will be on CBS.
Iowa has opened as around a field goal favorite, with action forcing lines to fluctuate around the hook on different college football betting sites. The total line is only 36 points since both teams bring strong defenses to the table.
Last season, Iowa had some of the best defensive numbers in FBS but struggled to score. Enter new offensive coordinator Tim Lester, who spent last season coaching under Matt LaFleur with the Green Bay Packers. After a slow start in their opener against Illinois State, the Hawkeyes erupted for five touchdowns in the second half to flex their improvement on that side of the ball.
Iowa State also posted good defensive numbers last season while holding opponents to 5.2 yards per play and 23.9 points per game. The Cyclones opened with a 21-3 win over North Dakota last weekend but lost linebacker Caleb Bacon to a season-ending leg injury. Iowa State head coach Tim Campbell is 1-6 in his career against Iowa.
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Iowa favored over Iowa State ahead of heated rivalry matchup
How Iowa could win the game
While the Hawkeyes need to score to win, Iowa is capable of dominating this matchup by leaning on its defense. Veteran coordinator Phil Parker led the Hawkeyes to a historic campaign in which they allowed the fewest yards per play (3.9) in FBS last season. As a freshman, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht went 23 for 44 passing with a 56.5 quarterback rating in a 23-13 home loss to Iowa. Now, the sophomore has to face a similarly ferocious defense on the road. The Cyclones only managed 86 rushing yards against FCS opponent North Dakota in Week 1, so the running game might not be effective enough to keep Iowa’s defense honest, putting too much on Becht’s shoulders.
How Iowa State could win the game
Perhaps Iowa’s offense isn’t fixed. The Hawkeyes came alive in the second half of their opener but went into halftime up 6-0 behind a pair of field goals. Cade McNamara proceeded to throw three touchdowns after halftime, yet there could be concerns about how he might hold up against a quality FBS defense. McNamara — who is coming off an ACL surgery — completed 51% of his passes as the Hawkeyes were blown out, 31-0, in his sole start against a ranked opponent (Penn State) last season. Iowa State has two receivers on the Biletnikoff Award watch list in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, who has a reception in 33 straight games. It might be easier to believe in the Cyclones’ offense at this point in the season, and both defenses are strong.
