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Athlon Sports predicts Iowa beats Iowa State, covers spread
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It’s Week 2 of the college football season and here we are.
It might as well be rivalry week.
Iowa, who began its season with a 26-point win over Northern Illinois, will face a familiar foe in Week 2 — Iowa State. The Hawkeyes and Cyclones hate each other. There’s no way around it.
Iowa State kicked off its 2018 campaign exactly the way Nebraska did: No game was played at all. So, for the Cyclones, the battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy will be their first test of the year.
On Thursday, Kevin McGuire from Athlon Sports posted his prediction and preview to the game.
He’s seeing a close one.
“An Iowa State win in Kinnick Stadium would not be a shock at all,” McGuire wrote. “The Cyclones continue to grow as a program under Matt Campbell with a defense that is reshaping the way people view the program and an offense that has some key pieces in place to make for an interesting season. After all, this is a program that topped Oklahoma last year, so why can’t they win on the road at Iowa?
“Here’s why: Because Iowa’s defense can shut down Iowa State’s run game, and Nate Stanley has shaken off the rust and is poised to have a more polished game, which should include getting tight end Noah Fant more involved. This one goes back and forth, but Iowa claims the Cy-Hawk Trophy yet again.”
McGuire predicts that Iowa wins 26-20, which not only gives the Hawkeyes the victory, but it would also mean that they cover the spread of -4.5 — courtesy of mybookie.ag.
Iowa fans would surely be happy with that outcome.
Kick off is set for 5 p.m. on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. The game will be televised on FOX.
Kevin covers Big Ten football for Saturday Tradition.