The Iowa Hawkeyes play the Utah State Aggies on Sept. 2, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, money line odds and over/under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet.
The game starts at 11 a.m. CT and can be seen on FS1.
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The Hawkeyes open up this season hosting the Aggies inside Kinnick Stadium. Iowa has a new quarterback, a lot of new faces in key skill positions, and an evergrowing cautious sense of optimism about how well things could go this year.
The Aggies finished last season 6-7, while the Hawkeyes finished 2022 with an 8-5 record and a bowl win. The defense is primed for a strong day against a Utah State offense that had its struggles during the 2022 season. The Hawkeyes are also looking to get things clicking on offense early this year against a defense that gave up yards galore last year.
Spread, money line, over-under
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
- Point spread: Iowa -23.5 (-110)
- Money line: Iowa -2500
- Over-under: 43 (-110)
Injury report
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Utah State at Iowa injury report:
Iowa:
- Cade McNamara, QB: questionable (quadricep)
- Joey Labas, QB: probable (undisclosed)
- Nico Ragaini, WR: questionable (undisclosed)
- Jacob Bostick, WR: out (foot)
- Jack Johnson: questionable (possible suspension)
- Noah Shannon, DL: out (suspension)
Utah State:
- Josh Sterzer, TE: out (undisclosed)
- Broc Lane, TE: probable (foot)
Best Bet
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Best Bet: Under 43 points
It would be wrong to start the Iowa season off with anything other than taking the under. Iowa is going to be better on offense this year. The talent is there and a step forward should be coming. That said, they may not entirely open things up and Cade McNamara could be on a snapcount.
Iowa’s defense should do whatever they want against Utah State and slow down their offense to a crawl. The only way 43 hits is if the Hawkeyes hang up 35 or more points, an unlikely occurrence in a game where they can lean on talent and size to suffocate their opponent.
Iowa won’t be as much of a lock for the under in 2023 as it was last year, but as opposed to the offense being the reason last year, their elite defense starts the year with an under.
Prediction
Syndication: HawkCentral
Prediction: Iowa 31, Utah State 7
Iowa has more strength, speed, and better athletes. Pair that with the intensity Kinnick Stadium will have due to the excitement this team has surrounding it, and Utah State is in for a long day on offense. Don’t let anyone tell you that Iowa could get stunned in this one. Kirk Ferentz, his staff, and most of the roster remember Week 1’s 7-3 win against South Dakota State in 2022 and won’t repeat that.
Iowa’s offense gets more going than fans have seen in a while and they handle the Aggies the way that you would expect a Big Ten West contender to.
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
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