Indiana vs Iowa Odds, Spread and Prediction
- #18 Iowa (0-0) hosts #17 Indiana (0-0) on Saturday at 3:30 PM Eastern on Big Ten Network
- Indiana is ranked heading into the season for the first time since 1969; the Hoosiers were a perfect 7-0 against the spread last season
- See the odds, predictions and best bet to make on the Week 1 Big Ten tilt below
Kinnick Stadium in Iowa will be rocking on Saturday afternoon – and it will be rocking for good reason.
The Hawkeyes host the Indiana Hoosiers who are ranked in the pre-season for the first time since 1969. Both teams are considered to be trendy picks to win the Big Ten championship if Ohio State is to slip up along the way. Iowa opened as 5.5 point favorites but that number is down to 3.5 as kickoff approaches.
Iowa has won seven of the last eight games between the two teams, but it’s Indiana riding the betting momentum. Let’s take a deep dive into both programs to see why that’s the case heading in to the season opener.
Indiana vs Iowa Odds
| Team | Spread at DraftKings | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Hoosiers | +3.5 (-115) | +155 | O 46 (-110) |
| Iowa Hawkeyes | -3.5 (-105) | -180 | U 46 (-110) |
Odds as of Sept 2nd
Indiana Aiming to Build on Historic 2020 Season
Indiana finished the 2020 season sitting at #11 in the College Football Playoff rankings. It was the first time the program finished inside the rankings since the committee was formed. They earned the ranking finishing the year 6-2 and more importantly to bettors, they were 7-0 against the spread.
Star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is back after suffering a torn ACL in a late season win over Maryland. He has confirmed he’s one hundred percent confident his knee has healed. Having him ready to start the year is huge news for the Hoosiers. Penix Jr. was ranked the 45th best player in college football by ESPN and quite frankly, that number could be low.
His most memorable came in Indiana’s near upset of Ohio State. He finished that game with 491 passing yards and five touchdowns. The upset bid came up short but the message was sent, Penix Jr. will be a force in college football until he heads to the next level.
https://twitter.com/IndianaFootball/status/1339625382501371907?s=20
Two other members of the team finished ranked inside ESPN’s 100 best college football players, wide receiver Ty Fryfogle was 54th and cornerback Tiawan Mullen was 75th. Look for Fryfogle to have a big impact on this game. One year ago he had 721 yards and seven touchdowns. He piled up those numbers on only 37 receptions. He’s a deep threat that could bust this game open. Looking at the low total, it could only take one or two big plays to make the difference.
Can Kirk Ferentz Help Iowa Continue Early Season Success?
Head coach Kirk Ferentz has been at Iowa for what feels like forever. He’s consistent in many ways but none bigger than his success in opening games. Dating back to 2001, Ferentz and the Hawkeyes are 18-2 in their first game of the season. This year he returns most of a team that finished the previous year ranked 15th, their best finish since 2015.
Who's Ready?#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/ImWCHmir2x
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) September 2, 2021
Another constant in Iowa is a strong defense and this year should be no exception. The entire secondary returns one year after racking up 11 interceptions. The team has 64 interceptions dating back to 2017 which is tied for first in all of college football. Penix Jr. likes to air it out and he’ll need to be careful against the experience Hawkeyes secondary.
Offensively Iowa will be led by quarterback Spencer Petras and running back Tyler Goodson. The pair serve as game managers while relying on the stout defense to take care of business.
Trust Indiana to Cover the Number
Had you bet Indiana to cover all of last season you’d probably be adding a new wing to your house. They have exceeded the odds makers expectations time and time again and have a great opportunity to do the same in this one.
The 3.5-point spread gives enough cushion to bet them confidently in a game that should be close. Trust Tom Allen’s group to keep this game within a field goal and maybe even steal a victory if Penix Jr. has the ball last.
The Pick: Indiana +3.5 (-115)
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
