Iowa Hawkeyes at Indiana Hoosiers
Saturday, 11/6/2010, 12:00 PM EST, TV: Big Ten Network
Opening Point Spread: Iowa -16.5
Current Betting Line: Iowa -17
Opening Total: 53.5
Current Total: 54
Current Moneyline: Iowa -800 / Indiana +600
Iowa bounced back from a 31-30 home defeat to Wisconsin on October 23rd with a highly-impressive 37-6 win over the Michigan State Spartans. “I thought our guys came out ready at kickoff, certainly, and for the first time we really put it together in all three phases,” said head coach Kirk Ferentz. This is the 72nd game in this series and the Hawkeyes lead 40-27-4 and have won five of the last seven games. Iowa also leads in the series in games played at Bloomington by an 18-17-1 margin. Ferentz’s biggest test this weekend is making sure his squad is focused on this weekend’s game after facing back-to-back ranked foes. “You always worry about something,” he stated. “Right now, we’re worried about prosperity. A week ago, we were worried about being in a ditch. The team is 2-5 ATS as a favorite of 10.5 to 21 points and the college football lines page has them listed right in the middle.
The Hawkeyes are ranked 16th in the BCS standings and is the highest ranked team among schools with two losses. Iowa has won 21 of its last 25 games and 23 of 28, dating back to the middle of the 2008 season. Much of the squad’s success can be attributed to its stop unit that ranks fifth nationally in rushing defense and eighth in scoring defense by holding opponents to 84.5 rushing yards and 14.5 points respectively. The offense has also produced at times this season and ranks second in the nation in pass efficiency and has led the Hawkeyes to 30 or more points in three consecutive Big Ten games for the first time since 2005.
Indiana is up for a major challenge in competing with the Hawkeyes due to its defense allowing 29.4 points and 384.1 yards per game. “They are one of the best in the country against the rush – they don’t give up many points from scoring defense,” said head coach Bill Lynch who is one win shy of his 100th victory. “They are sound, outstanding football players.” The Hoosiers are an even 4-4 on the season and will be playing their final game at Memorial Stadium this year, also searching for a conference victory. The team did manage to cause six turnovers in last year’s 42-24 loss in Iowa City, a game they were winning before the Hawkeyes exploded for 28 points in the final frame. Indiana is 8-9 ATS in home games the last three years and 9-11 versus conference opponents over that span.
The Hoosiers will not be intimidated in this game and will gain confidence in knowing that they have split the last 10 meetings. Indiana will need another great defensive effort to pull of the upset, but the team has allowed 30 points or more in 18 of its last 32 games dating back to the 2008 season. Those kinds of numbers are the main reason the program has lost nine straight Big Ten games. Quarterback Ben Chappell will leads the conference in passing yards and will face a heavy pass rush on Saturday due to leading rusher Darius Willis being unavailable.
Bettors will be interested in knowing that the Hawkeyes are 5-0 ATS in their last five games as a road favorite, while the Hoosiers are 4-1 ATS as a home underdog.
Don’t miss any of Saturday’s action and let the college football handicappers at Maddux Sports put money in your pocket!
