Two teams that like to mix in a lot of running plays, Head Coach Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes (-4) are gearing up to take on the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. This vital Big 10 game starts at 12:00 p.m. ET and ESPN2 is in line to have the TV rights.
Iowa Hawkeyes at Indiana Hoosiers Betting Preview
In this Saturday Big Ten game, Iowa is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 4 points. The Hawkeyes are also receiving -185 moneyline odds while the Hoosiers are +165. If one squad can create a bunch of points early, it will likely produce a worthy live betting opportunity.
The public has been siding with the Hoosiers, as the opening line was 6.
Both of these teams have rewarded gamblers this season as both the Hawkeyes and the Hoosiers are up exactly 3.0 units thus far.
The Hawkeyes have gone 4-1 straight up (SU), including 1-1 SU against conference opponents. The Hoosiers are 4-2 SU overall and 1-2 SU in conference play.
These two Big 10 adversaries did not get a chance to face each other a year ago.
The Hawkeyes want to make it two in a row 48-31 victory over Minnesota last week. Nate Stanley completed 23-of-39 passes for 314 yards, four scores and one interception. Ivory Kelly-Martin (only 47 rushing yards on 20 attempts) led the ground attack while Nick Easley (six receptions, 52 yards, one TD) and Brandon Smith (five catches, 68 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
A week ago, Ohio State knocked off this Indiana crew by a score of 49-26. The Hoosiers defense let the Buckeyes pass for 455 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 154 yards. Parris Campbell put up a solid showing in the win, posting 142 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches for Ohio State. For Indiana, Peyton Ramsey completed 26-of-49 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns. Ramsey (10 yards on 10 rush attempts) and Stevie Scott (64 yards on nine carries) mounted the running game as J-Shun Harris II (eight receptions, 104 yards) and Nick Westbrook (five catches, 109 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Iowa has run the ball on 58.4 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 53.4 percent across possessions in conference play. Indiana has a run percentage of 50.2 percent, and has rushed the ball 41.3 percent of the time against Big 10 opponents. The Hawkeyes have produced 155 rush yards/game (including 127 per game versus Big Ten opponents) and have nine touchdowns on the ground this year. The Hoosiers are totaling 164 rush yards per game (92 in conference) and have seven total rushing TDs.
The Hawkeyes offense has tallied 243 yards/game in the air overall (285 per game versus conference opposition) and has nine passing TDs so far. The Hoosiers have produced 248 pass yards per contest (294.0 against Big 10 foes) and have 12 total pass scores.
Iowa should hold an advantage in both defensive facets. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 84 yards and pass for 188 yards per game. The Indiana D has allowed 212.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 157.5 yards per game on the ground. The Hawkeyes are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.20 to opponents, while the Hoosiers have allowed a 5.69 ANY/A.
Offensively, Stanley has put up 897 passing yards this year. He’s connected on 62 percent of his 118 attempts with seven passing scores and three interceptions. Stanley has a 7.16 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 9.41 over the past two games.
Look for a balanced attack offensively from Iowa in this one. As a group, T.J. Hockenson, Ivory Kelly-Martin and Ihmir Smith-Marsette have collectively accounted for 506 total yards and three touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
Peyton Ramsey has connected on 114-of-171 passes for 1,073 yards, 10 TDs and four INTs for Indiana. His ANY/A stands at 5.87 for the year and 6.74 over his past two outings.
Nick Westbrook (207 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns on the year), J-Shun Harris II (152 receiving yards) and Stevie Scott (470 rush yards, three rush TDs, one receiving TD) have combined to account for 467 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns over the past two games.
RELATED: Week 7 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Prediction: Iowa Hawkeyes at Indiana Hoosiers
SU Winner – Iowa, ATS Winner – Iowa
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
Iowa was the underdog by 7 points in its last game and the O/U going into it was 41.5. The over cashed and Iowa covered in the 48-31 win over Minnesota.
Iowa has averaged 3.8099173553719 yards per carry across its past three games and 3.6 over its last two.
Indiana has averaged 2.9 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.9 over its last two.
Indiana has lost four fumbles this season while Iowa has lost three.
Indiana was favored by 28 points in its last outing and the O/U was set at 64.5. The over cashed and Indiana did not cover in the team’s 49-26 defeat to Ohio State.
Over its last three matchups, Indiana is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Hawkeyes offense has produced six pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Hoosiers have accounted for one such play.
The Iowa defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Indiana has given up one such play.
The Iowa offense has created three rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Indiana has created six such runs.
The Hawkeyes defense has allowed one rushing play of 20 or more yards, while the Hoosiers have given up eight such runs.
The Iowa defensive unit has 18 sacks on the year while Indiana has just 10.
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