Iowa owns an 11-game winning streak, Penn State a nine-game winning run, heading into this big Big Ten inter-divisional battle slated for Saturday afternoon in Iowa City. Both these teams are 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in Big Ten play, and it wouldn’t be totally surprising to see these teams meet again in December in the conference championship game.
The Hawkeyes opened as three-point home favorites for this game, but early betting action shaved that line in half. Which way are we going here with our free Week 6 pick?
Penn State-Iowa Betting Odds
This week’s college football betting lines opened Iowa as a three-point home favorite for this game, with an over/under of around 42.5. Early betting action then dipped the Hawkeyes to -1.5 at BetOnline.
Penn State Betting Preview
One season after starting 0-5, the Nittany Lions are 5-0, following last week’s 24-0 blanking of Indiana. Penn State took the lead for good with an 80-yard touchdown drive midway through the first quarter, led 14-0 at the half, then put the game away with another score midway through the third, on its way toward the victory and the cover as a 12-point favorite. The Lions out-gained the Hoosiers 408-264, out-rushed Indiana 209-69, and won the time of possession by a 35:25 split. Penn State opened this season with a 16-10 victory over Wisconsin, although that win doesn’t look as good now as it did then, with the Badgers struggling this season. A couple of weeks later, the Lions beat Auburn, which is 4-1 on the season, 28-20, and covered at -4. So Penn State is 3-0 both SU and ATS vs. its three toughest opponents so far.
Iowa Betting Preview
The Hawkeyes, meanwhile, are also 5-0 after mugging Maryland last week 51-14. Iowa actually trailed the Terrapins 7-3 after one quarter but scored the next 41 points of the game on its way toward the convincing victory and easy cover as a three-point favorite.
The Hawkeyes out-gained Maryland 428-271, dominated time of possession by a 39:21 split, and won the turnover battle 7-0!
Iowa opened this season with a convincing 34-6 win over Indiana, covering at -3.5, then won at rival Iowa State 27-17. So the Hawkeyes are also 3-0, both SU and ATS vs. their three toughest foes so far.
More Picks: Georgia at Auburn Point Spread Winner
Penn State-Iowa Recent History
The Nittany Lions beat the Hawkeyes six times in a row from 2011-19, but last year Iowa went into Happy Valley and won 41-21. The Hawkeyes led that game 31-7 in the third quarter, let Penn State get within 31-21 put pulled away from there.
Also, that game played over a total of 46.
- Get more details: Penn State at Iowa 10/9/21 Match-up Stats
College Football Betting Trends
In games matching two ranked teams, this season, the higher-rank outfits are only 8-9 SU, 7-10 ATS.
Totals Report
The Under is 4-1 in Lions games this season, which are averaging 42 total points. The Under is also 4-1 in Hawkeyes games this season, which are averaging 45 points. Overs are 4-2 over the last six meetings between these two teams.
