The Iowa Hawkeyes will play the Troy Trojans in Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, September 14, at 4:0 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.
Iowa enters this Week 3 contest as a -22.5 favorite on the spread, while the total sits at 40.5.
So, where’s the betting value here? Let’s dive into my Iowa vs Troy prediction for Saturday’s Week 3 college football matchup below.
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- Pick: Iowa -22.5
My Troy vs Iowa best bet is on the Hawkeyes spread with the best line currently available at Caesars, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Troy Trojans vs Iowa Hawkeyes Odds
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- Point Spread: Troy +24 (-108) · Iowa -24 (-112)
- Total: Over/Under 39.5
- Moneyline: Troy +1300 · Iowa -2800
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Troy Trojans Betting Preview: A Sun Belt Force
Over the last few seasons, Troy has been a force to be reckoned with in the Sun Belt. The Trojans have won 11 games in each of the last two seasons, which has led to two Sun Belt Conference championships.
Troy enters this game with a record of 0-2, following losses to Nevada and Memphis in its first two games of the season.
The results are not overly surprising, as this Troy team lacks much experience and little continuity. Zero total seniors are on the Troy roster this season who began their careers with the program. They are the only program in the country that can say that this season.
Troy’s starting quarterback, Goose Crowder, left the game against Memphis before halftime due to a shoulder injury, while starting center Eli Russ missed the game entirely. Without those two, it was hard for Troy to find any rhythm offensively, and the offense scored just 10 points after Crowder left the game.
Both are listed as probable for this week’s game, but they may be rusty.
If it comes to this, Matthew Caldwell is the backup. The transfer from Gardnerr-Webb came in after Crowder’s injury last week and completed 11 of 19 passes for 113 yards. Caldwell is a walk-on, and the drop-off from Crowder to Caldwell is significant.
Defensively, Troy has been getting wholly gashed on the ground this season. Nevada ran for 214 yards (6.3 YPC) and two touchdowns in Week 1. Last week, Memphis ran for 211 (7.3 YPC) and four touchdowns.
The Trojans will not have many answers for Kaleb Johnson and the Hawkeyes’ offensive line.
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Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview: Pivotal Moment
Iowa faces a pivotal moment in their young season after giving away the game to their heated rival Iowa State Cyclones last week, blowing a 19-7 second-half lead in the process. A tumultuous start to the normally even-keeled Iowa football season has made things more interesting than usual.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz returned last week from his one-game suspension for recruiting violations, and early on, it appeared to give the Iowa defense a boost, as Iowa held the Cyclones scoreless for the first 30 minutes.
The veteran Iowa defense is as good as usual, and there should be no concerns about what the Hawkeyes are capable of on that end.
However, the offense is still facing lingering questions.
Iowa fans have begun to groan about their quarterback situation, and it is hard to blame them. Quarterback Cade McNamara (the Michigan transfer) has been remarkably inconsistent, possibly due to injury, as consistency used to be the entire base of his game under center. McNamara has missed much of the last two seasons. Now that Iowa has lost an early contest, it will be interesting to see how much the Hawkeyes staff trusts their veteran, especially if he is hobbled.
But McNamara’s poor play can’t be debated — his 115.5 quarterback rating ranks 15th out of 18 starting quarterbacks in the Big Ten conference.
The one positive for the Hawkeye offense is that it appears they may have their best feature back in quite some time. Running back Kaleb Johnson has exploded onto the scene in his third season at Iowa, averaging 153 yards per game with four rushing touchdowns.
Iowa will be able to run the ball in this game, making McNamara’s life a whole lot easier.
Troy Trojans vs Iowa Hawkeyes Pick & Prediction
It’s a make-or-break game for Iowa at home here.
Luckily for Kirk Ferentz’s squad, they don’t need to do anything special to get a blowout win.
Johnson should have a field day on the ground, and the injury concerns for the Troy offense will likely linger deep into this game against the physical Iowa defense.
Take the Hawkeyes to bounce back and cover.
Pick: Iowa -22.5
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How to Watch Troy Trojans vs Iowa Hawkeyes Live: Start Time, TV Channel, Location
| Location: | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA |
| Date: | Saturday, Sept. 14 |
| Kickoff Time: | 4 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | FS1 |
Troy Trojans vs Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Trends
- Troy is 0-2 SU and ATS.
- Iowa is 1-1 SU and ATS.
- Iowa games are 2-0 to the over.
Troy Trojans vs Iowa Hawkeyes Weather
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