The Iowa Hawkeyes (2-1) and Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-1) meet at Huntington Bank Stadium Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's'college football odds around the'Iowa vs. Minnesota odds, and make our expert'college football picks and predictions.
Minnesota’s always been a run-first team, but this season it is showing a bit more balance. The Gophers are 2-1, with their only loss coming in the opener against North Carolina. Since then, their defense has really stepped up, pitching a shutout in their last game against Nevada. They cruised to a 27-0 win, covering the 14.5-point spread, although the game stayed under the 44.5 total. The defense is becoming a real strength for Minnesota as the season moves forward.
Iowa is 2-1 after a tough loss to Iowa State but bounced back with a 38-20 win over Troy. While the defense wasn't at its best, the offense shined. RB Kaleb Johnson ran for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns on 25 carries, and QB Cade McNamara was efficient, completing 19 of 23 passes for 176 yards. It didn't cover the 24-point spread, but the game easily went over the 39-point total.
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