The stretch run of the season is upon us. With Iowa sitting at 7-2 (4-2 Big Ten), the Hawkeyes are in prime position to capture the division crown and represent the Big Ten West in Indianapolis.
Of course, there’s still plenty of meat left on the bone before then. That starts this afternoon against an improved Rutgers (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) squad. The Scarlet Knights are enjoying a breakthrough season in Greg Schiano’s second stint as head coach.
Leaning on a strong run game with junior running back Kyle Monangai and junior quarterback Gavin Wimsatt, Rutgers has already secured bowl eligibility. The Scarlet Knights have Big Ten wins over Northwestern, Michigan State and Indiana.
A win over the Hawkeyes would qualify as a signature win for Rutgers. Iowa will look to squelch those dreams and march one step closer toward its third Big Ten West title in the division’s final year.
What does ESPN think about today’s contest and the rest of the season for Iowa? Let’s take a look at the updated ESPN matchup predictor numbers for the Hawkeyes.