The Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) travel to Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City to battle the Iowa Hawkeyes (6-3, 3-3) in a Saturday afternoon (4 p.m. ET) game with conference and playoff implications. The Golden Gophers head into the weekend ranked No. 7 in the Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA Today Sports. Iowa is ranked 22nd.
We analyze the Minnesota-Iowa odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.
Minnesota at Iowa: Three things you need to know
- Iowa has won four in a row and six of the last seven in this series. The Hawkeyes won last year’s meeting 48-31. The 2019 Iowa squad started out 4-0 but is just 2-3 since. But the three losses have been by a combined 14 points.
- Offensively, Iowa was at its best early in the season. Minnesota has been at its best since then. For the season, the Gophers have averaged 6.4 yards per play — and have eclipsed that mark in five of their last six games.
- Minnesota’s schedule ranks as the easiest of any team in the Power 5. The Gophers’ game control — especially of late — has been impressive. But Saturday’s game will be the team’s second straight against a tough, physical team … and only the second road game since Sept. 28 for Minnesota.
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Minnesota at Iowa: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Iowa 24, Minnesota 21
Moneyline (ML)
Playing the IOWA -154 side here. Analytic indicators support the idea of more to come from a Hawkeye offense that has a talent advantage in the trenches. And defensively, Iowa’s stinginess has helped the team go 14-5 straight up over its last 19. And the Hawkeyes have been through more toe-to-toe moments and against more level competition. If it comes down to a field-goal exchange, the home side has the edge there, as well.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Iowa returns a profit of $6.49.
Against the Spread (ATS)
There’s a bit more value to leverage in the moneyline. So, a PASS on Iowa -2.5, -129.
Over/Under (O/U)
A lean on the under 44.5 but NO PLAY on the number. Saturday’s weather at Kinnick figures as chilly with maybe a 12-13 mph breeze.
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