NCAAF Week 8 Minnesota at Iowa Betting Preview
Another Close Hawkeyes Game Coming?
Floyd of Rosedale is on the line in the Week 8 Minnesota at Iowa betting matchup. The pig-shaped trophy is awarded annually to the winner of this clash of Midwestern teams, but this hasn’t been much of a rivalry at all with the Hawkeyes staking claim to wins in 10 of the last 11 meetings and 18 of the last 22 overall.
Maybe this is the year Floyd returns to the Twin Cities for the first time since 2014? The Hawkeyes are very banged up and also in a letdown mode after surviving last week’s clash which may have been for the Big West crown, beating Wisconsin 15-6. The line is moving in the Golden Gophers direction, opening at Hawkeyes -6 but likely going off at -3.5 or lower at game time. 57% of the public is on Iowa Saturday afternoon at Kinnick Stadium.
Why Minnesota Has Value at +3.5
If you got in on the Golden Gophers at +6 way to be on the ball, but +3.5 still has value on Saturday for the simple fact that Iowa does not – or cannot – score. The Hawkeyes are the 4th worst scoring team in the Big Ten (20.9) and not that Minnesota is much better (21.7) but it would be no shocker if this game came down to a field goal.
Most of the Minnesota vs Iowa meetings are close, including last year’s 13-10 Hawkeyes victory in Minneapolis even though the visitors were actually +2.5 underdogs. Iowa has won six straight in the head to head series, but six of those victories were decided by one score.
The Golden Gophers really can’t pass the ball (132.8 ypg) which is a problem, but the saving grace in that is the only team worse in the Big Ten is Iowa (116.6). Minnesota has the #5 rush offense in the conference (180.5) while Iowa is 10th (130.9) so you could legitimately say that P.J. Fleck’s squad has the offensive advantage in this matchup.
Why Iowa Has Value at -3.5
With last week’s win over Wisconsin – as ugly as it was – the Hawkeyes have moved to 3-1 in the conference and have the fast track at representing the Big Ten West in the Championship Game. The week 8 Minnesota at Iowa betting matchup isn’t really a look ahead game considering Kirk Ferentz’s team has a bye next week, so the only thing they have to worry about is a letdown after the showdown with the Badgers.
There’s no doubt that Iowa is banged up with starting QB Cade McNamara already out for the year with a knee injury and now leading receiver Erick All joining him on the season ending shelf also with a torn ACL.
While injuries to your starting QB and starting TE are unfortunate, the good news out of that is the Hawkeyes never really relied on that aspect of their offense anyways ranking just ahead of service academies Air Force and Navy as the third worst passing attack in the country. The Hawkeyes will beat you instead with the #11 scoring defense in the nation (14.9 ppg) something which they should be able to do against a sub-par Minnesota offense.
Free Week 8 Minnesota at Iowa Betting Pick
Fans of offense should avert their eyes because this game is not going to be lighting up the scoreboard by any means. While the extremely low O/U of 30.5 still might be a bit too high, the hook of +3.5 looms large in what should minimal scoring and an extremely close contest.
Free Pick: Minnesota +3.5
