Penn State vs. Iowa picks, predictions: Week 4 college football odds, spread, lines

Expert picks and predictions for Penn State vs. Iowa in this Week 4 college football game according to the computer predictive models

This weekend brings us another important matchup in the Big Ten between a pair of cross-divisional, ranked rivals as Iowa goes on the road against Penn State in college football's Week 4 action on Saturday.

Iowa is averaging 28.3 points per game this season behind quarterback Cade McNamara, a 54 percent passer, leading an offense good for 302 yards per game but potentially going without tight end Luke Lachey, the Hawkeyes' leading receiver who is dealing with a leg injury coach Kirk Ferentz called "fairly significant".

Also perfect through three games, Penn State is churning out 467 yards per game with a balanced attack between quarterback Drew Allar, a 67 percent passer with four touchdown passes, and a ground game posting 4.6 yards per carry and 10 TDs.

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

Penn State vs. Iowa picks, predictions

Penn State vs. Iowa picks, predictions / USA Today Images

Penn State odds: The computers project a convincing win for the Nittany Lions, who win the matchup in 86.7 percent of the 20,000 simulations used to pick winners.

Iowa odds: Conversely, the Hawkeyes have the 13.3 percent chance to pull off the upset, according to the computer simulations.

Point spread: Penn State comes into the game as 14.5 point favorites against Iowa, according to the lines at SI Sportsbook.

Total: 41.5 points

Moneyline: PSU -901 | Iowa +500

Penn State predictions: The win at Illinois moved the Nittany Lions up 1 spot on the index's 133 football rankings, projected to be 22.1 points better than an average opponent, and forecasted to win 10.6 games this season.

Iowa predictions: FPI favors the Hawkeyes to be 8.3 points better than opponents on average and estimated to win 8.6 games, good for No. 33 nationally in the computer's updated 133 team poll.

Penn State vs. Iowa schedule

When: Sat., Sept. 23
Where: University Park, Pa.
Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern
TV: CBS network
Stream live: 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 key analytics, including scores to date, quality of opponents, team talent, recruiting, and a team’s schedule.

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College football rankings

A closer look at the AP top 25

First-place votes in parentheses

1. Georgia (57)
2. Michigan (2)
3. Texas (3)
4. Florida State (1)
5. USC
6. Ohio State
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. Notre Dame
10. Oregon
11. Utah
12. LSU
13. Alabama
14. Oregon State
15. Ole Miss
16. Oklahoma
17. North Carolina
18. Duke
19. Colorado
20. Miami
21. Washington State
22. UCLA
23. Tennessee
24. Iowa
25. Florida

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