SATURDAY BREAKDOWN: Iowa vs. Middle Tennessee State

A look at Saturday's game.

Tim Fuller/USA Today Sports

GAME FACTS

Time and place — 11 a.m., Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City

TV — ESPN2 (Kevin Brown, PBP; Andre Ware, analyst)

Radio — Hawkeye Radio Network. Also available on Sirius Ch. 136 and XM Ch. 196

Records — Iowa 3-0 (1-0 Big Ten), Middle Tennessee State 1-2.

Rankings — Iowa is No. 14 in the Associated Press and coaches polls.

Series — First meeting.

Streaks — Iowa has won six consecutive games dating back to last season. Middle Tennessee State has lost one.

THE LINES

Point spread — Iowa -23.5

Moneyline — Iowa -1902, Middle Tennessee State +1050

Over/under — 52

FAST FACTS

• Iowa has won 10 consecutive nonconference games since the 2017 season opener.

• Iowa’s current winning streak is its longest since a 12-game streak in the 2015 season.

• Iowa is off to a 3-0 start for the third consecutive year, and for the ninth time in Kirk Ferentz’s 21 seasons as head coach. The Hawkeyes are chasing their fifth 4-0 start.

• Iowa is 6-1 against teams currently in Conference USA.

WHEN IOWA HAS THE BALL

The Hawkeyes have been virtually turnover-free to start the season, with only one lost fumble and no interceptions.

And that leads us into QB Nate Stanley, who has been steady to start the season. Stanley has completed 59-of-93 passes for 689 yards and six touchdowns. He is averaging 229.7 yards per game, and has an efficiency rating of 146.96.

There isn’t going to be a change in the running back rotation. Mekhi Sargent (40 carries, 212 yards), Toren Young (22-121), Tyler Goodson (22-113) and Ivory Kelly-Martin (5-20) will get their carries.

“The trick is to figure out how to get them in and out of the game,” Ferentz said. “Right now offensively, and I think it's true defensively, too, I think everybody ... nobody is counting plays. They are just playing. That's all we are asking them to do is go in there and do what they can do, and I think we're pleased with what we're seeing so far.”

Also, expect Stanley to be generous in the passing game. Twelve players have caught at least one pass so far.

Middle Tennessee State is allowing 238.7 passing yards per game and 222 rushing yards. Safety Reed Blankenship has both of the Blue Raiders’ interceptions. Blankenship also has a team-high 25 tackles.

WHEN MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE HAS THE BALL

Quarterback Asher O’Hara was the talk among the Iowa players during Tuesday’s media availability. O’Hara has rushed for a team-high 202 yards while throwing for 785 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s thrown just two interceptions and has an efficiency rating of 170.04.

“Leading passer, leading rusher. He's really doing it all,” Ferentz said. “He'll pull it down, break contain, those kinds of things.

“When quarterbacks break the contain, bad things tend to happen. He's got that ability.”

Wide receiver Ty Lee had a team-high 12 catches for 135 yards. Wide receiver C.J. Windham has just seven catches, but three of those have gone for touchdowns.

This will be an important game for Iowa’s defensive front. The Hawkeyes have just three sacks this season, and the containment on O’Hara will belong to the defensive line.

THE FINAL THOUGHT

Middle Tennessee State won’t be daunted by this road game — the Blue Raiders have already played at Michigan this season.

The Hawkeyes have talked all week about focus — they’re coming off a bye week, and the Big Ten schedule resumes next week with a trip to Michigan. This is a mature team, so a look ahead shouldn’t be a problem.

The best-case scenario would be a big lead early, and then get everyone out of the game and ready for the Wolverines. A lot of that will be on Iowa’s defense, which needs to keep the Blue Raiders quiet.