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Iowa opens as underdog vs. Iowa State in marquee Week 2 matchup
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The No. 7 Iowa State Cyclones and No. 18 Iowa Hawkeyes both picked up Week 1 home wins but did so in extremely different fashions.
While the Cyclones survived FCS Northern Iowa, 16-10, the Hawkeyes trounced No. 17 Indiana, 34-6, picking off one of the conference’s top quarterbacks, redshirt junior Michael Penix, Jr., three times.
Style points are a plus, but the most important thing is to simply win and both programs did that, setting up a ranked showdown in Ames on Saturday, one ESPN’s College GameDay will be on-site for.
Despite their respective season-opening showings, Kirk Ferentz’ team has opened as a four-point underdog for the game, via DraftKings.
Battling for the Cy-Hawk Trophy, Iowa and Iowa State have met 67 times, dating to 1894, with the Hawkeyes owning a 45-22 edge.
Due to the coronavirus, this rivalry matchup did not take place in 2020, but the Hawkeyes have won five-straight from 2015-19.
Interestingly, the Cyclones’ last two victories in the series have both come in Iowa City, with their last win in Ames occurring in 2011.
Saturday’s tilt will kick at 4:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Rydquist has been contributing to Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition since 2019. He can be found on Twitter @TeddyRydquist.