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South Dakota State vs. Iowa Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 1

By Joe Summers

Graham Friedrichsen and the Hawkeyes offense expect to be much-improved in 2022
Graham Friedrichsen and the Hawkeyes offense expect to be much-improved in 2022 / Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen /
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The Iowa Hawkeyes lost to North Dakota State back in 2016 and hope to avoid a similar let-down against South Dakota State to kick off the college football season.

After finishing 2021 with a 10-4 record and No. 21 ranking, the Hawkeyes return 17 starters. They're the only team in college football with three linebackers (Jack Campbell, Seth Benson and Jestin Jacobs) on the Butkas Award Preseason Watch List and are consistently one of America's premier defenses.

That being said, South Dakota State is ready for a fight. The No. 2 FCS team in the country, the Jackrabbits covered the spread in each of their final five games last year and bring back a ton of talent on both sides of the ball.

Can Iowa hold off the feisty Jackrabbits or will South Dakota State imitate its northern brethren in an upset victory?

Let's take a look at the odds before diving into the matchup:

South Dakota State vs Iowa Odds, Spread and Total

South Dakota State vs Iowa Betting Trends

South Dakota State

  • 6-0 against the spread (ATS) last six games
  • OVER is 6-1 last seven games
  • 2-10 outright last 12 games against FBS teams

Iowa

  • 2-5 ATS last seven games
  • UNDER is 9-4-1 last 14 games as home favorite
  • 15-1 outright last 16 games as home favorite

South Dakota State vs Iowa Prediction and Pick

Iowa's defense is going to be good. We can pretty much write that in stone.

What determines how much this team can achieve is up to the development of quarterback Spencer Petras, who threw only 10 touchdowns to nine interceptions last year. Offseason reports rave about his mental improvement, and the Hawkeyes could be in for a big season if Petras deliver.

If this Iowa team hadn't already suffered an FCS upset in recent years, I'd be tempted to pick the visitors. But these Hawkeyes will be prepared, and are typically excellent in September under Kirk Ferentz.

The unit we can trust the most is Iowa's ferocious defense. Jackrabbits' quarterback Mark Gronowski missed all of last season with injury, and this is about as difficult of a "Welcome Back" game as he could get.

Back the Hawkeyes to utilize their suffocating defenders to win comfortably at home.

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