The Iowa Hawkeyes will look to avoid the huge upset when they host the Miami (OH) Redhawks in their Week 1 regular season opener at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. With the Big 12 title hopefuls looking to reach the double-digit win mark in 2019 after coming up just short of doing so a year ago, let’s find out where the best betting value lies in this contest!
Miami (OH) vs Iowa 2019 College Football Week 1 Spread, Game Preview & Pick
- When: Saturday August 31, 2019, 7:30 PM (EDT)
- Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
- TV: FS1 / Total: 49
- College Football Week 1 Odds: Iowa -21.5
Weather Forecast
- Mostly Cloudy: 23°C/73°F
- Humidity: 63%
- Precipitation: 20%
- Wind: 10 mph E
- Cloud Cover: 69%
- Type of Stadium: Open
Why Bet On Miami (OH) at +21.5?
The RedHawks went a modest 6-6 last season, but they did manage to close out their 2018 campaign by winning three straight games. Miami Ohio returns three starters on the offensive line, but they also lost their starting quarterback from last season, their top two running backs and two of their top four wide receivers from an offense that averaged 28.1 points per game a year ago (75th).
Miami (OH) also lost six starters on the defensive side of the ball after giving up 25.5 points per game in 2018 (52nd). While head coach Chuck Martin has gone an impressive 96-46 in five seasons at the school, Miami opened the 2018 campaign with three consecutive non-conference losses to fall to a pitiful 2-19 in non-conference games under Martin with their two wins coming against mediocre Austin Peay and Presbyterian.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 28.08
- Total Yards: 372
- Pass Yards: 212.25
- Rush Yards: 159.75
- Average Score Against: 25.50
- Total Yards: 368.17
- Pass Yards: 208.50
- Rush Yards: 159.67
Why Bet On Iowa at -21.5?
The Hawkeyes recorded a solid 9-4 mark in 2018 while averaging a healthy 31.2 points per game (44th). Iowa returns six starters on the offensive side of the ball, including starting quarterback Nate Stanley and leading rusher Mekhi Sargent. The bad news is that the Hawkeyes lost tight ends Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson to the NFL draft after the pair combined to catch 27 of Nate Stanley’s 52 TD tosses the last two seasons.
Iowa returns four starters from a defense that limited the opposition to just 17.8 points per game last season (14th). Defensive lineman A.J. Epenesa is one of the best pass rushers in the country after recording an impressive 10.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. Linebacker Djimon Colbert had 52 tackles as a freshman while safety Geno Stone heads up the secondary after recording four interceptions and three pass deflections last season.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 31.15
- Total Yards: 375
- Pass Yards: 226.62
- Rush Yards: 148.38
- Average Score Against: 17.77
- Total Yards: 294.77
- Pass Yards: 184.08
- Rush Yards: 110.69
Iowa vs Miami OH College Football Week 1 Betting Trends
- Miami-OH is 8-1 ATS in the last 9 games
- Miami-OH is 5-2 SU in the last 7 games
- The total went OVER in 6 of Miami-OH’s last 9 games
- Iowa is 10-5 ATS in the last 15 games
- Iowa is 11-4 SU in the last 15 games
- The total went OVER in 5 of Iowa’s last 6 games
Expert Analysis and Prediction for Iowa vs Miami OH
I like the Iowa Hawkeyes a lot heading into 2019 and I believe they could challenge for a conference title this coming season. However, I’m not real fond of the three-touchdown plus spread here which is why I’m going to urge you to back the Miami Ohio Redhawks to narrowly cover the chalk in this regular season opener. I know the Redhawks are an uninspiring 2-5 ATS in their last seven games against Big Ten teams and 1-7 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games, but the MAC title hopefuls are also a robust 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
The Hawkeyes are a perfect 5-0 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games and they’ve clearly got the big edge in overall talent. But Iowa is also a discouraging 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games against teams from the MAC and that just doesn’t bode well heading into this contest. I’m taking Miami Ohio and the points MYBookie college football betting faithful and you should too!
Pick: Iowa 30 Miami (OH) 10
