2023 College Football Betting: #24 Iowa vs #7 Penn State Game Lines

It’s a potential Big Ten Championship Game preview on Saturday when No. 24 Iowa of the West Division visits No. 7 Penn State of the East – divisions will disappear starting next year – with the Nittany Lions as solid favorites on the NCAAF odds.

2023 College Football Odds and Expert Analysis: #24 Iowa Hawkeyes vs #7 Penn State Nittany Lions | 2023 NCAAF Expert Analysis MyBookie Sportsbook

Regular Season: August 26 to December 9
Week 4: Thursday, September 21 to Saturday, September 23, 2023

How to Bet Iowa at Penn State NCAA Football Odds & TV Info

When: Saturday, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Beaver Stadium
TV: CBS
Stream: Paramount+
Radio: Tunein.com
Opening NCAAF Lines: PSU -14.5 (total 40)

Series History

Penn State leads the all-time series 17-14 and won the last meeting 23-20 in Iowa City in 2021. Iowa will be playing in its second White Out in Happy Valley. The unranked Hawkeyes won in the White Out in 2009 courtesy of Adrian Clayborn’s blocked punt and return for a touchdown in Iowa’s 21-10 win over the fifth-ranked Nittany Lions.

Why Bet on Iowa?

Iowa (3-0) finished non-conference play Saturday with a 41-10 win over Western Michigan. Cade McNamara went 9-of-19 on passing attempts for 103 yards and two touchdowns.

Leshon Williams is listed as the starting running back against Penn State as Williams is coming off a big game in which he ran for 145 yards and caught two passes for 27 yards and a score against Western Michigan. Williams had a career-long 53-yard run in the second quarter to set up Iowa’s first touchdown. It is Iowa’s second rush of 50+ yards this season. (The Hawkeyes had two 50+ yard runs in 13 games in 2022.)

Kaleb Johnson and Jaziun Patterson are both dealing with injuries and are not listed on the depth chart this week, so Williams should be expected to handle most of the running back duties against the Nittany Lions. Tight end Luke Lachey (leg) is likely to miss the remainder of the 2023 season after getting hurt against WMU. He has 10 catches for 131 yards.

Defensively, Iowa has blocked two kicks this season (one punt, one field goal) and the defense/special teams have scored eight points. Iowa’s defense has allowed one touchdown to each of its first three opponents. The unit, which ranks 18th in scoring defense at 12.3 points per game, has allowed one touchdown or less in 12 of its last 16 games, dating back to the start of the 2022 season. Since the start of the 2015 season, Iowa is now 66-2 when leading by eight points at any point in a game.

The Hawkeye defense has scored eight points during the 2023 season and 48 points since the start of the 2022 season. LB Jay Higgins is third in the Big Ten and tied for 13th nationally, averaging 10.7 tackles per game. The Indianapolis native had a career-high 16 tackles in the season opener against Utah State.

Iowa is 3-0 for the 11th time under Kirk Ferentz (2023, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2003, 2001). The Hawkeyes have started 4-0 six times under Ferentz (2021, 2019, 2015, 2009, 2006, 2003). Iowa is 8-3 in its last 11 league openers and 13-11 all-time under Ferentz. Iowa has opened Big Ten play six previous times (three in Happy Valley) against Penn State in the Ferentz era, winning four of the six meetings.

Bet Iowa Hawkeyes to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NCAAF

Why Bet on Penn State?

Penn State (3-0) opened Big Ten play last Saturday with a 30-13 win at Illinois. Drew Allar completed 16 of 33 passes for 208 yards and also had six rushes for 24 yards. Allar showed his inexperience while facing the first true test of his young career. After completing 78 percent of his passes through the first two weeks of the season, the 6-foot-5 sophomore logged just one completion longer than 20 yards when he hooked up on a 33-yard connection with Liam Clifford.

Penn State’s running backs were involved in all three offensive touchdowns on the afternoon. Kaytron Allen (13-54-1) and Nicholas Singleton (11-37-1) each recorded rushing scores, while Trey Potts tossed a touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Warren.

The defense led the way for the Nittany Lions, recording its first five-takeaway game in seven years. Penn State racked up four interceptions—by four different players—and a fumble recovery. Penn State recorded seven tackles for loss. The Nittany Lions have registered at least six tackles for loss in each of the last 11 games, the nation’s longest streak. They have recorded three or more takeaways in seven games over the last two seasons, tied-most among FBS teams.

Over the last two seasons, Penn State is 9-0 when forcing multiple takeaways in a game. After scoring 20 points off turnovers at Illinois, the Nittany Lions are averaging a nation-best 9.69 points off turnovers per game over the last two seasons. Penn State forced five takeaways at Illinois and has now forced 33 turnovers (14 fumbles, 19 interceptions) over the last two years.

Penn State has recorded at least 30 points in 10-straight games, which is the longest active streak in the nation. It marks the seventh time in Big Ten history a team has strung together 10 or more games of 30+ points. The last time Penn State went 10-straight games with 30+ points was 2016-17 (10 games). The school record is 15 games (1993-94). It marks the seventh time in Big Ten history a team has strung together 10 or more games of 30+ points.

The Nittany Lions are set to hold their 15th full-stadium Penn State White Out on Saturday. The tradition stretches back to a student section White Out in 2004. Penn State’s first full-stadium White Out was against Notre Dame in 2007.

Bet Penn State Nittany Lions to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NCAAF

Expert Prediction

Penn State 30, Iowa 17

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