The Iowa Hawkeyes’ most highly-anticipated game up to this point in the season and the toughest they will face all year is just one day away.
Iowa hits the road to head to Columbus, Ohio to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in a Big Ten showdown that features the No. 3 team in the nation.
Iowa comes into this matchup 3-1 while the Buckeyes are a perfect 4-0. Despite the records, the Hawkeyes are a huge underdog to Ohio State who is viewed by many as a College Football Playoff team and among the favorites to win it all.
But can Iowa play spoiler? Do the Hawkeyes have the ability to derail a “title or bust” season in Columbus? CBS Sports looked into this game as one of their best games of the week in college football and came away believing that wouldn’t be the case.
I know the game is at Iowa, and I know the Hawkeyes have a great defense with an improved offense, but how much can we truly trust what we’ve seen from the Hawkeyes? You have to give them the benefit of the doubt on defense because they’ve been so good at it for so long, but what’s the best offense Iowa has faced? Is it Iowa State or Minnesota? Is there a difference?
They haven’t seen anything like what Ohio State’s bringing to town. The Buckeyes can beat you in multiple ways. Take away an option, and there are four or five more. On the other hand, if Ohio State neutralizes Kaleb Johnson, does Iowa’s offense have a counter? I can’t help but remember the second half of Iowa’s 20-19 loss when the Cyclones were able to contain him, and Iowa was helpless offensively. If Iowa State can do it, you have to believe Ohio State can, too. The Pick: Ohio State -19.5 (-110) – Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports
Kaleb Johnson is making his return to Ohio where he played high school ball and is going to need to put on his best show yet for the Hawkeyes to hang tough in this one.
Iowa has to play sound defense against the overwhelming amount of talent at the skill position the Buckeyes boast or the dam could break early in this one and leave Iowa playing catchup; a game they aren’t built to succeed at.
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