Penn State vs Iowa Betting odds, Injury Report, and Predictions

Whiteout week is here as the Iowa Hawkeyes come into Happy Valley. The Penn State football team is the favorite when looking at the betting odds, but can they cover the line? Also, round up on injuries for both teams. Iowa specifically has been hit by the injury bug at this point of the season. Finally, we drive into what is the Big Ten Bet of the week.

Injury Report: *Based on the previous week’s official Big Ten availability reports*

Penn State:

Alonzo Ford DT – Out for the Season

Smith Vilbert DE – Out for the Season

Landon Tengwall OL – Medical Retirement

Malick Meiga WR – Questionable

Harrison Wallace III WR – Questionable

Kaleb Artis DT – Questionable

Iowa:

Chris Reames DL – Questionable

Luke Lachey TE – Out for the Season

Jaxon Rexroth DB – Questionable

Jacob Bostick WR – Questionable

Kaleb Johnson RB – Out indefinitely

Reese Osgood WR – Questionable

Jaziun Patterson RB – Day-to-day

Asher Fahey – Questionable

Noah Shannon – Out for the season

Betting Odds:

Spread:

Penn State (-14.5) vs. Iowa

James Franklin’s Nittany Lions enter Saturday’s matchup as a 14.5-point favorite according to the betting odds. Penn State is 3-0 ATS this season and 9-0-1 in the last 10 games. Iowa is 2-1 ATS this season and 7-2 in the last 9 games. Penn State is 4-2 ATS in their last 6 home games against Iowa.

Penn State Football Moneyline: -600

Placing a $600 bet on Penn State to knock off Iowa would pay $100. Penn State leads the all-time series 17-14. Iowa is currently on a 2-game winning streak dating back to 2020. The last meeting between the teams came in 2021 where #3 Iowa defeated #4 Penn State 23-20 in Iowa City.

Penn State Football vs. Iowa Over/Under: 40

 The total has gone over in 2 of 3 games for Penn State to start the season. The total has gone under for 2 of Iowa’s 3 games. The total has gone over in 5 of Penn State’s last 7 games against Iowa.

Penn State vs. Iowa Game Predictions:

This will be the toughest matchup to date for Penn State. Iowa still isn’t great offensively despite the late score last week against Western Michigan to cover the spread. Their defense is a different story. For the last 5 or so years the Hawkeye defense has been one of the best in all of college football. This will be a big test for Drew Allar and the offense to move that ball against a complete defense. Last week the offense was inconsistent and shaky against an Illini defense that had a few good players but is not as complete as the Hawkeyes.

The weather forecast for Saturday is looking like rain and that will make this one lower-scoring and sloppy. Certainly, something that will bring Penn State into the type of game that Iowa wants to play. Many Penn State fans may have PTSD from the last time Iowa showed up for a rain-soaked whiteout. A game that featured #5 Penn State jumping out to a 10-0 1^st quarter lead and ended with unranked Iowa scoring 21 unanswered points including a blocked punt touchdown in the 4^th to take the lead. I think this week Penn State has just too much talent for Iowa to keep up with no matter the conditions. If the weather holds off the Nittany Lions have a chance to pull away and make this an impressive win. Most likely though this will be a close game from start to finish where points are hard to come by. Take Iowa and the points in this matchup, especially if you can get the hook at 14.5 points. I also would take the under in this matchup because I think it will end up being a defensive battle.

Prediction:       Penn State 17      Iowa 10

Big Ten bet of the Week: (1-2)

Indiana (-16.5) vs Akron

7:30 pm BTN

In a week full of big-time matchups sometimes you must look under the radar for good bets. After Iowa betrayed us last week with the late cover we are going to return to the well and bet on another Big Ten vs. MAC matchup. This time we take Indiana giving 16.5 points at home to Akron giving us promising betting odds. The Hoosier defense has been salty this season giving up only 23 to the high-powered Ohio State offense to open the year and only 21 points to a solid Louisville team last week. I think they get back in the win column and win this one by at least 3 or 4 touchdowns this week against the Zips.

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