The Big Ten opener is almost here for the Iowa football team, as a road trip to Piscataway, New Jersey awaits.
The Hawkeyes will take on Greg Schiano’s Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the conference opener for both squads. Iowa enters the game at 2-1 on the season, with a loss in the Cy-Hawk game being the only blemish on its record. They’re coming off a 47-7 win over UMass in which head coach Kirk Ferentz became the all-time winningest head coach in Big Ten history. And he’ll look to add to that record-breaking total on Friday night.
Rutgers is 3-0 this season and coming off a 60-10 drubbing of Norfolk State last weekend. Their offense, led by senior quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, has been explosive. And the excitement is palpable around the team for the first time in a long time. Expect a large home crowd and lots of noise for the Hawkeye offense to contend with.
There’s a legitimate argument to make for both sides winning this game, but who do the national experts have winning this all-important conference opener?
Iowa vs. Rutgers expert predictions
Sports Illustrated: Ameer Tyree of Sports Illustrated didn’t give a score prediction for the game, but did take the Rutgers moneyline and had this to say about the game.
“History is on Iowa’s side in this matchup. The Hawkeyes have won all four of their all-time meetings with the Scarlet Knights. The Hawkeyes have also covered the spread in three straight pairings. However, the home team has the offensive tools to flip the script this time around.
Iowa could be down a starting running back and the quarterback play of Mark Gronkowski has been questionable so far this season. Gronkowski has only thrown for 306 yards and three touchdowns through three games despite getting a pair of tune-up games along the way. Rutgers has plenty of weapons, though.
Kaliakmanis has been productive and efficient and his receiving corps has a lot to do with that. Three different Scarlet Knights pass catchers have amassed at least 201 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. Then there’s running back Antwan Raymond, who has rushed for five scores and is averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
Rutgers has the superior offense and can get a defensive boost at home. The underdogs can win this game straight up.” – Tyree
Fox Sports: Rutgers 28, Iowa 25. Fox Sports is backing the home team to pick up the win and start Big Ten play undefeated.
College Football News: Iowa 24, Rutgers 20. Pete Fiutak of College Football News picked Iowa to go on the road and pick up a big win.
“The two programs have played four times since 2016. You know that offense thing the kids are all into? No, there hasn’t been a lick of that in the meetings.
Iowa won 14-7 in 2016, 30-0 in 2019, 27-10 in 2022, and 22-0 in 2023. No, these aren’t the same Rutgers Scarlet Knights, but Iowa is still Iowa, so …” -Fiutak.
Bleacher Report: Iowa 20, Rutgers 16. Bleacher Report has faith in the Hawkeyes to pick up a low-scoring conference road win on Friday.
Iowa and Rutgers will kick off at 7 p.m. CT on Friday from SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J. The game can be seen on Fox.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football vs. Rutgers expert predictions nationally
