NCAA College Football Betting – Iowa Hawkeyes Preview

[Shame About Ray]

It’s getting closer and closer to that time again. The online betting community is now starting to research, focus and revamp their strategies for the online college football betting season. So let’s start the NCAA betting preview with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Kirk Ferentz’ squad output only six wins last year but give them a break: they were forced to start more freshmen than they have every had to in their history. Chemistry and continuity should be much better this year and sports betting expectations are growing as the pressure starts to mount a little bit for Ferentz. The honeymoon is over and without a bowl, Ferentz will be without a job.

Offense

Jake Christensen will be expected to carry the burden of this offense, although he is feeling the heat in spring practice from Ricky Stanzi and Marvin McNutt. He is the most seasoned option and the team’s best option at the position.

The running game struggled last year but it was mostly because of the crumbling offensive line up front. They couldn’t block for the run or for the pass, allowing 46 sacks. Running backs Albert Young and Damian Sims are gone but Paki O’Meara and Nate Guillory can handle the load.

The front five has been one of the main focuses in the offseason by the football betting community and should be much better. If they are cohesive and Christensen does have time to throw, the Hawkeyes should have a dangerous passing game.

Wideout Andy Brodell was hurt for most of last season but he’s back and will team with Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Trey Stross, who has been making big plays in spring, to make an explosive group of receivers. There is depth at tight end as well with Tony Moeaki and Brandon Myers.

There are plenty of options for Christensen for this year – his Junior year – and he needs to complete more than the 53.5% of his passes from last year. Even so, he doesn’t throw a lot of interceptions (17 TD, 6 INT in 2007) and if he can blossom, so will this offense – and team.

Defense

Although the Hawkeyes defense ranked third-best in scoring defense in the Big Ten, their pass defense finished a mediocre 6th out of 11 teams.

There are plenty of bodies around to bolster this weakness, including the return of Amari Spievey. He was the Connecticut Player of the Year in 2005, then redshirted, then left the program, but now has returned.

The strength of the defense is up front where their two starting defensive tackles, Mitch King and Matt Kroul, are among the best in the business. The Hawkeyes figure to be a tough team to run on once again.

Outlook

The pressure is on Ferentz but with a softball start to the schedule, the young Hawkeyes should be able to gain confidence early and possibly produce a stellar season. Ohio State is not on the radar while Iowa will play seven home games. Their toughest games are at home, with Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue and rival Iowa State all coming to Kinnick Stadium.

With home games against Maine, Florida International, Iowa State and Northwestern sandwiched with a road contest in Pittsburgh, the Hawkeyes have a legitimate shot to start 4-1.

They still have to travel to Michigan State, Indiana and Illinois – three teams that finished with better records last year – so temper expectations but eight wins is possible.

BetUS sportsbook already has tons of college football Futures betting available for those of us who can't wait. Bet on the Heisman winner, Conference and Divisional winners and, of course, the 2009 BCS National Championship winner.