NCAA Betting Line – Iowa State Cyclones vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
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Iowa State Cyclones vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
Saturday, September 5—Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa — 12:05 EST
College Football Betting Line: Iowa -6 1/2 (45 1/2)
Last week, the Iowa Hawkeyes almost got clipped by FCS in-state foe Northern Iowa, needing two blocked kicks to survive in a game that never should have even been close, especially taking into account Iowa is ranked 22 nd in the nation. 
The Hawkeyes will now turn their attention to another in-state program, and their top rival, the Iowa State Cyclones.
Every year, Iowa’s penchant for staying in the thick of Big Ten title chases when people least expect them to, and their ability to knock off good SEC teams in bowl games gets the national attention. But they always seem to struggle in heated slugfests early in the year against a mediocre-to-bad Iowa State program.
The Cyclones are 5-0 against the spread in their last 5 games against the Hawkeyes, and the odds at BetUS.com this week have the Hawkeyes as somewhat surprising 6 ½-point favorites with the over-under listed at 45 1/2.
Considering the history of the Hawkeyes and Cyclones in their battle for the coveted Cy-Hawk Trophy and their tendency to have close games, this is shaping up to be one of those toss up games.
The Hawkeyes are a good team across the board but their problem is that they don’t have any big-time skill players on offense now that running back Jewel Hampton has been declared lost for the season with a knee injury.
The Hawkeyes’ offensive line is so good that a few not-so-creative announcers probably broke out the “I bet you and me could run through a hole that big!” comment during a few broadcasts last year, but that statement won’t hold true this year for Iowa.
Starter and former walk-on Paki O’Meara simply isn’t good enough to make big plays in the run game and the Cyclones should be able to contain him.
That makes Iowa one-dimensional, and their receivers aren’t good enough to consistently beat man coverage.
Iowa State has a few playmakers in QB Austen Arnaud and RB Alexander Robinson who should allow them to keep the game close with the Hawkeyes.
Iowa probably wins this one, but expect it to be by controlling the ball on short passes and grinding away with some inside runs and relying on their defense.
That means that the under and Iowa State vs. the spread are both solid bets this week.
Pick: Iowa State (+6 ½) and the under (45 ½).
