College Football Odds: Iowa at Penn State
Written September 24, 2009 by Rock Henderson
Big Ten supremacy is on the line when the Iowa Hawkeyes take on the fourth ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. Iowa spoiled Penn State’s national title hopes a year ago in Iowa City when Daniel Murphy split the uprights on a 31 yard field goal attempt to give the Hawkeyes a 24-23 victory as time expired. Both teams enter their Big 10 opener with perfect 3-0 records and know how important it is to start the conference season with a win. According to the college football lines for this Saturday night prime time match-up, Penn State is a 10 point favorite at home and the total is set at 41 points.
Joe Paterno continues to recruit highly skilled players to Happy Valley at the ripe age of 85. Senior QB Daryll Clark is leading an efficient Penn State offense once again in 2009. Clark has thrown for 760 yards and eight touchdowns in his first three games even though State lost most of their playmakers at wide receiver to the NFL. Clark has been aided by Evan Royster and his physical style of running. The Junior running back has totaled 236 yards on the ground and four total touchdowns to pick up where he left off last season. Paterno’s defense has been strong in its first three games against fairly weak offenses allowing only 20 points. MLB Sean Lee continues the tradition of the so-called “Linebacker U” and has racked up 32 tackles including 7.5 for a loss. The Nittany Lions haven’t been tested during the non-conference stretch. Iowa will be able to match the physicality on both sides of the ball that Penn State brings to the table and has enjoyed recent success against Penn State, winning 7 of the last 8 meetings since the millennium. For those of you that bet college football, check out this great $500 match bonus offer from BetUS.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have built some momentum the last couple weeks leading up to one of their most important games of the 2009 season against Penn State. After dominating in-state rival Iowa State to the tune of a 35-3 win, Iowa’s defense took over in the second half against a strong Arizona team and came out on top 27-17. The Hawks had big time questions at the running back position after starter Jewel Hampton was ruled out for the year. Redshirt freshman Adam Robinson and true freshman Brandon Wegher have more than filled Hampton’s shoes. Robinson has gained 233 yards and scored three touchdowns on the year while Wegher has dashed for 147 yards and two scores in two games. QB Ricky Stanzi has put up decent numbers to start the season, but will need to cut down on the turnovers if the Hawks want to pull off the upset for the second year in a row. Iowa should get three starters back for this game. WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos is expected to return along with All-American candidate OL Bryan Bulaga and often injured TE Tony Moeaki to provide more depth.
This game could turn into a defensive battle as both units are stingy. Penn State was the last team to score a rushing touchdown on the Hawkeyes and that was in November of 2008. Iowa is just 2-6 in Big Ten openers on the road under Kirk Ferentz. 107,000 plus of fans dressed in white on national television and a bunch of angry Nittany Lions reminiscing about the loss last year doesn’t bode well for Iowa, but 10 points is a large number for two teams equally talented.
Recommended Play: Pass
Final Score Prediction: Penn State 24 Iowa 17
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The teams that Iowa has defeated have all won big in their other games. UNI all the Nation looked down their nose as a push over, but just may have been the best team they played. I’m looking for the Hawkeyes to win again and I have been following them since 1942. Our High school full back played on a team that won the Rose Bowl. We were rated Number one in the state of Iowa with a 24-0-1 record until we ran into Jerry Riechow.
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Jack Jones Reply:
September 24th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
One of our writers actually graduated from Iowa and he’s been all over them this year. I have to say that I’m leaning towards the Hawks this weekend as well with the only real drawback being the revenge factor after Iowa took down the Nittany Lions last year in Kinnick.
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