Iowa vs. Iowa State rivalry headlines Saturday college football betting slate
Saturday's college football action features one of the Midwest's fiercest rivalries, with Iowa hosting Iowa State in a game that has bettors eyeing the Under. The Hawkeyes and Cyclones have stayed Under the total in seven of their last nine meetings, and oddsmakers have set the line at 42.5 points for this year's showdown.
The matchup is part of a loaded Saturday slate that also includes No. 1 Ohio State traveling to No. 4 Texas in a rematch of last year's defensive battle. For Iowa sports fans, the in-state rivalry takes center stage, and the betting angles are drawing attention from regional and national experts alike.
Why the Under is the play in Iowa vs. Iowa State
Both teams enter with new quarterbacks, which is a key factor in the Under projection. Iowa lost Mark Gronowski and added 16 players through the transfer portal, but none were quarterbacks to replace him. Iowa State, meanwhile, lost quarterback Rocco Becht and head coach Matt Campbell to Penn State, leaving Arkansas State transfer Jaylen Raynor to take over under center.
SportsLine expert Micah Roberts explained the reasoning:
Iowa and Iowa State have stayed Under the total in seven of their last nine meetings against each other, and I think they're going to stay under this time, too, on the basis of both teams getting new quarterbacks. No starters return on offense or defense for Iowa State. But this rivalry will have them play better than they are, and the game will stay close. Under is the play.
Texas vs. Ohio State: A primetime rematch in Austin
The headline game of the day pits Julian Sayin and Ohio State against Arch Manning and Texas in Austin. Last year, the Buckeyes won 14-7 in a defensive slugfest, with Sayin's late touchdown pass to Carnell Tate proving decisive.
SportsLine expert Josh Nagel is backing the Longhorns this time around.
Memorial Stadium is a difficult place to play for any opponent in a primetime showcase affair, and the projected 90-degree heat should work in the Longhorns' favor. What's more, their defense held Heisman candidate Jeremiah Smith to just 43 yards on six catches. We see value on the Longhorns.
Texas is listed at -122 to win outright, with Ohio State the slight underdog on the road.
USC looks to cover big spread against Louisiana
In other action, No. 14 USC is a 30.5-point favorite over Louisiana. The Trojans are averaging 40.5 points per game through two contests, including a 39-0 shutout of Fresno State last week. Quarterback Jayden Maiava leads the nation with 695 passing yards and threw for 3,711 yards with 30 total touchdowns last season.
Louisiana struggled against ranked competition last year, losing 52-10 to No. 25 Missouri. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every FBS game 10,000 times, projects USC to cover in 68% of simulations.
Responsible gaming reminders for Iowa bettors
As always, bettors should wager responsibly. Sportsbooks like BetMGM offer tools including gaming limits, timeout options, and 24/7 helpline support at 1-800-MY-RESET. For Iowa residents, knowing your limits and betting within them is essential to keeping the experience enjoyable.
Saturday's full slate offers plenty of action for college football fans across the state, whether you're backing the Hawkeyes, the Cyclones, or just looking for a competitive game to watch.