The Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State Cyclones meet in week 2 college football action from Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Hawkeyes Take Down Utah State

The Iowa Hawkeyes started their season on the right foot thanks to a 24-14 win over Utah State in their opening game. Cade McNamara threw for 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 17 of 30 passing while Kaleb Johnson rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown. Luke Lachey led Iowa with 7 grabs for 73 receiving yards while Seth Anderson had a pair of receptions for 41 yards and a TD and Erick Ali added a touchdown grab as well. On defense, Jay Higgins had a team-high 16 total tackles while Deontae Craig added a sack and Xavier Nwankpa added an interception as well in the victory.

Iowa Hawkeyes Team Facts

– Iowa has won 12 of its last 13 September games against non-AP-ranked teams.
The underdog has covered the spread in five of Iowa’s last six games.

– Iowa has won the first quarter in four of its last five games against non-conference opponents.

– Iowa has won the first half in each of its last four games against non-conference opponents.

– Each of Iowa’s last nine games against non-conference opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.

Cyclones Take Out Northern Iowa

The Iowa State Cyclones come into this one on the heels of their 30-9 season-opening win over Northern Iowa last time out. Rocco Becht threw for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10 of 13 passing while also rushing for a 3rd touchdown as well. Cartevious Norton added a team-high 49 rushing yards and Abu Sama III had 40 rushing yards as well while Benjamin Brahmer’s lone reception went for a team-high 36 yards and a touchdown. Easton Dean had 3 receptions for 21 yards and Tyler Moore added a TD grab as well. On defense, Myles Purchase and Tyler Onyedim each had a team-high 7 total tackles with Purchase adding a sack as well. Caleb Bacon had a pair of sacks while Carston Marshall and Trent Jones II each had a sack also. Jeremiah Cooper chipped in a pair of interceptions including a pick-six as well.

Iowa State Cyclones Team Facts

– Iowa State has lost each of its last nine September games as a home underdog.

– Iowa State has covered the spread in each of its last four September games as an underdog.

– Iowa State has won the first quarter in each of its last four games against non-conference opponents at Jack Trice Stadium.

– Iowa State has won the first half in 10 of its last 11 games against non-conference opponents at Jack Trice Stadium.

– Each of Iowa State’s last eight games as an underdog against non-AP-ranked teams have gone UNDER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

– Iowa State ranked 11th among FBS teams for H2 points allowed per game last season (8.3).

– Iowa State ranked 15th among FBS teams for Q4 points allowed per game last season (4.6).

– Iowa ranked 1st among FBS teams for Q4 points allowed per game last season (3.4).

– Iowa ranked 2nd among FBS teams for H2 points allowed per game last season (6.3).

Chris’ Pick

I’m looking at the under here. This is a rivalry of rivalries to begin with, but this is and has been a hard-hitting, defensive rivalry more often than not the last few years. Iowa may have scored 24 points last week, but that’s overachieving by their standards and I don’t expect this matchup to be far off from last year’s meeting that saw a combined 17 points. Give me the under here.