2019 Iowa Hawkeyes College Football Odds and Expert Betting Picks

2018 Record: 9-4

2019 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 7.5*

2019 Season Win Total Picks NCAA Football: 'Over'

Jesus, this team is even boring to write about, much less watch or wager on.

Kirk Ferentz loves the grind, and the Hawkeyes just kind of are what they are. Much like Oklahoma State is the perfect representation of everything - good and bad - about the Big 12, Iowa is kind of the quintessential Big Ten team. They thump. They slog. They fight. They don't care about the aesthetics of a win. They just care about getting a win.

Last season was another successful, yet utterly nondescript season in Ames. They went 9-4 straight up, were 5-4 in league play, and notched a totally forgettable bowl win over Mississippi State. Bleh.

There is nothing outstanding about this year's Iowa team. Underrated quarterback Nate Stanley is back for his third season under center. Iowa has its top three running backs in the fold and a steady, thick offensive line. Sure, they have to replace their two best offensive players in NFL Draft picks T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant. But I'm sure they will be able to replace that production.

Ferentz has only four returning defensive starters, and they lost their top five defenders. But the Hawkeyes never have issues on that side of the ball. They have allowed fewer than 21 points per game four straight years. I would expect more of the same.

Iowa's three most difficult games this year all come away from home. They have to play at Michigan, at Wisconsin and at Nebraska. They also have to face last year's Big Ten West champ Northwestern on the road and have to tangle with in-state rival Iowa State on the road as well.

It wouldn't stun me if Iowa lost all five of those road games. They won't. They will find a way to scuzz out one or two of those wins. They also have to host Penn State this season, and they could play as many as four games against Top 25 teams. Considering they are just 4-8 SU against ranked opponents the last four years, that is a problem.

I'm going to go with the 'over' in this one. They have six really difficult games. I think they'll win two of them. They should be able to handle the remaining dregs. I anticipate another eight-win season, and the Hawkeyes should sneak over this bar.

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