The #5 Iowa Hawkeyes (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) travel to the East Coast to take on the Maryland Terrapins (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) in Big Ten Conference action on Friday night. Both teams are off to undefeated starts and defeated a pair of non-conference opponents last weekend.
The kickoff for the conference clash is at 8 p.m. EST inside Maryland Stadium in College Park, MD. Iowa is a 3.5-point road favorite in the contest, and the total over-under is at 47.5 points.
What to Know – Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa has taken care of business through the first month of the college football season, beating every opponent by double-digits on their way to a top-5 ranking. The Hawkeyes have won ten games in a row dating back to the 2020 season. Iowa is aiming for its first 5-0 since 2015.
Iowa’s offense averaged 28.8 points and 293.0 yards of offense per game. Defensively, Iowa ranks 3rd in the country, holding opponents to 11.0 points and only 271.5 yards of offense allowed.
The key to Iowa’s offense is the play of running back Tyler Goodson. The junior rusher has carried the ball 80 times for 364 yards with five touchdowns, including a career-high 153 yards and three scores against Kent State the week prior.
Tight end Spencer LaPorta is quarterback Spencer Petras’ favorite passing target. LaPorta has hauled in 17 receptions for 214 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Iowa is 5-1 against the spread over their last six games and 6-2 ATS in their last eight as favorites.
What to Know – Maryland Terrapins
Maryland is off to a surprising start and trying to move to 5-0 for the first time since 2001 when the Terrapins were still a member of the ACC. The Terrapins playmakers on offense will give Iowa’s defense a tough test Friday night.
The Terrapins are scoring in bunches, averaging 37.3 points behind 519.3 yards of offense per game. Maryland’s defense allowing 14.3 points and 324.3 yards of offense per game to opponents.
Taulia Tagovailoa is off to a hot start under center, completing 75.5% of his passes with ten touchdowns. The Alabama transfer has thrown for 1,340 yards with just one turnover this season.
Wide receivers Dontay Demus Jr. and Rakim Jarrett have given Tagovailoa a pair of skilled pass-catchers to rely on in the air assault. Demus Jr. has caught 24 balls for 446 yards and three touchdowns, and Jarrett adds 17 catches for 265 yards and three scores.
Maryland has a 4-1 mark ATS in their last five home games but just 2-4 ATS in games played on Friday.
The Pick is In
Football fans are in for a treat Friday night when these two teams kick off in College Park. Iowa is excellent at protecting the football, limiting penalties, and relying on a solid defense to win ball games, and they’ll need to do all those things Friday night.
Tagovailoa and the Terrapins’ offense provide a unique challenge for the Hawkeyes’ defense. We will know early on in the contest how the Maryland wideouts fare against the Iowa secondary.
Maryland keeps this one close with a chance to pull off the upset late.
The Pick: Maryland Terrapins +3.5
