Iowa vs. Iowa State picks, predictions: Week 2 college football computer picks, odds, betting lines

Expert game picks and predictions for Iowa vs. Iowa State as the Week 2 college football schedule kicks off the battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy

Six of the last seven in this Midwestern football classic have gone to the Hawkeyes, but the Cyclones prevailed a year ago to claim the Cy-Hawk Trophy, which renews on Saturday as Iowa travels to rival Iowa State in college football's Week 2 action.

Iowa's moribund offense mustered all of seven points in that game. Spencer Petras averaged 3.5 yards throwing the ball and the Hawkeyes' ground game posted 2.3 yards per carry. Not that Iowa State fared much better, putting on 10 points total including the game-winner in the fourth quarter in the 10-3 win.

This time around, facing a contractual obligation that the Hawkeyes average at least 25 points per game in exchange for Brian Ferentz's continued employment, the unit just might have turned a corner after acquiring Michigan transfer quarterback Cade McNamara. He scored twice in Iowa's win over Utah State in the opener, including the first passing TD on the opening drive of a season in Kirk Ferentz's time at the school.

Iowa State was without quarterback Hunter Dekkers in the opener amid a gambling investigation in the state, but Rocco Becht scored twice on 10 completions and the Cyclones got on the board early after Jeremiah Cooper's early pick-six on the way to downing Northern Iowa in a 30-9 result.

What do the experts think of the matchup? Let's see how the College Football Power Index computer prediction model projects the game.

Iowa vs. Iowa State picks, predictions

Week 2 Iowa vs. Iowa State picks, predictions / USA Today Images

Iowa State odds: The index is siding with the home team this week, projecting the Cyclones have the 57.4 percent chance to win the game outright, according to the model that picks winners by simulating games 20,000 times.

Iowa odds: That leaves the Hawkeyes with the close 42.6 percent shot to pull off the win and move to 2-0 on the season, according to the index.

Point spread: The oddsmakers take a different view, listing Iowa as the 3.5 point favorites against Iowa State, according to the lines at SI Sportsbook.

Total: 36.5 points

Moneyline: IA -188 | ISU +145

Iowa predictions: The Hawkeyes sit at No. 44 on the index's latest 133 football rankings, projected to be 5.5 points better than an average team, estimated to win 7.0 games on the year, with a 16.7 percent shot to win the division, 2nd in the West behind favorite Wisconsin.

Iowa State predictions: FPI rates the Cyclones as the No. 42 team in college football based on an expected per-game scoring margin of 6.3 points against opponents, projected to win 6.5 games this season.

Iowa vs. Iowa State schedule

When: Sat., Sept. 9
Time: 2:30 p.m. Central
TV: Fox network
Stream: fuboTV (Try for free)

College Football Power Index

Football Power Index (FPI) college football rankings and computer prediction model are a measure of team strength that predicts a team’s future performance.

Rankings and scores predictions are based on 20,000 simulations of a team’s season and games, using a combination of analytics, including scores to date, quality of opponents, and a team’s schedule.

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College football rankings

According to AP top 25 poll

1. Georgia (58)
2. Michigan (2)
3. Alabama
4. Florida State (3)
5. Ohio State
6. USC
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. Tennessee
10. Notre Dame
11. Texas
12. Utah
13. Oregon
14. LSU
15. Kansas State
16. Oregon State
17. North Carolina
18. Oklahoma
19. Wisconsin
20. Ole Miss
21. Duke
22. Colorado
23. Texas A&M
24. Tulane
25. Clemson

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