NCAA football betting fans expect the Iowa Hawkeyes to bounce back from their week 3 loss and snap the Rutgers Scarlet Knights two-game winning streak on Saturday, September 24th at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. These are the odds for people betting on college football:
Iowa -14 (-110) 55½ (-110) -550
Rutgers +14 (-110) 55½ (-110) +425
The Hawkeyes lost to the North Dakota State Bison 23-21, and some say Iowa was asking for it when they scheduled the No. 1 ranked team in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Bison have won five national titles in a row in the FCS and, regardless of what NCAA football betting odds may have said, few considered them to be an underdog. Furthermore, when they kicked a 37-yard field goal as time ran out on Saturday, the word ‘upset’ did not cross a lot of people’s minds. All things considered, one should commend the Hawkeyes for wanting a challenge; after all, as Robert Browning said, “a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” However, Iowa may have reached too far and as a result, they might as well kiss the playoffs goodbye.
The Scarlet Knights have won two straight games, most recently defeating the New Mexico Lobos 37-28. Rutgers was behind 21-0 as Los Lobos went La Bamba in the first quarter. The Knights got on the board when QB Chris Laviano hit wide receiver Jawuan Harris with a 75-yard touchdown in what would be the beginning of a 31-point onslaught. Janarion Grant got to work in the second quarter, throwing a TD pass to Andre Patton, and returning a punt 69 yards to put the Knights ahead. Laviano struggled after his TD pass, and was pulled in favor of TCU transfer Zach Allen, who led a drive which resulted in a one of multiple David Bonagura field goals. Laviano returned to the field and finished 11 of 27 for 152 passing yards and one TD.
The Hawkeyes dropped off the AP poll and, as mentioned above, are not likely to be selected for the College Football Playoff. For whatever’s worth, though, Rutgers should be the easiest away game besides Purdue. If the trend continues, Iowa should be able to easily and exceedingly outscore the Knights in the first quarter. Other than Grant’s punt return, Rutgers’ only potential advantage over the Hawkeyes would be psychological. While still retaining the upper hand, Iowa is not quite what you’d call odds-on NCAA football betting favorite. And the Scarlet Knights could certainly use another win under their belt prior to facing the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines – the cream of the crop of the Big Ten conference. In summary, the Hawkeyes can be, and have been beaten, which is not tantamount to saying that they will be beaten again in general, or in particular by Rutgers, especially if LeShun Daniels and C.J. Beathard agree to set their sights on redeeming themselves as players and the team as a whole.
