#11 Indiana vs. Iowa:
Big Ten football delivers a compelling matchup this weekend as Iowa hosts No. 11 Indiana in Iowa City. Both teams enter with momentum, but the storylines could not be more different. Iowa needed a late surge to put away Rutgers, raising new questions about a defense that usually defines the program. Indiana, meanwhile, is riding high after obliterating Illinois in one of the most dominant wins of the season. The contrast in styles and situations makes this a fascinating spot. Can Indiana keep rolling, or will Iowa’s physical brand of football and tough home atmosphere drag the Hoosiers into a fight?
Check out the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks. Plus, it’s not too late to add more futures to your portfolio so take some time to check out our Power Four Conference Previews below.
Write Up Transparency
Be sure to follow me on X/Twitter @ColbyMBets to get my full card every day! Picks are always FREE.
Week 4 Results: 4-2 (+1.8u)
2025 Season Record: 15-11 (+3.81u)
#11 Indiana vs. Iowa Betting Odds
Can Iowa take down the Scarlet Knights on the road?
Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of September 25, 2025 a 2:24 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with Promo Code FREE250 for a 50% deposit bonus up to $250 as well as 100 Free Spins at the online casino.
Spread
- Indiana: -8 (-110)
- Iowa: +8 (-110)
Moneyline
- Indiana: -295
- Iowa: +241
Total
- Over 48.5 (-105)
- Under 48.5 (-115)
#11 Indiana vs. Iowa – September 27
Saturday afternoon Big Ten football brings us two teams fresh off wins, though one victory carried a far heavier weight than the other. Iowa slipped past Rutgers 38-28, needing 17 points in the fourth quarter to secure a double digit margin. The real question coming out of that game was simple: is Iowa’s defense okay? The Hawkeyes gave up 400 total yards to a pedestrian Rutgers offense, with 330 of those coming through the air. That is alarming for a program known for dragging games into low scoring grinders. Allowing nearly 30 points is extremely rare for Iowa, and now they face a top 15 opponent that will truly test whether this defense can respond in a big moment.
Indiana, on the other hand, did not just win. They dismantled Illinois 63-10, and “dismantled” might be putting it lightly. The Hoosiers rolled up 575 total yards, with 312 on the ground, looking like a completely different program in Curt Cignetti’s second season. There is no question Indiana has leveled up from their impressive season a year ago.
Line Movement
Oddsmakers opened this matchup on September 17 with Indiana favored by 2.5. Since then, the line ballooned to -8.5 before settling back at -8. I grabbed Iowa +8 on Sunday, though I just missed the +8.5 when I was hitting the button. Jerks. Still, I love the number and the chance to back a home dog. Shockingly, I have come to enjoy watching Iowa’s offense, largely because of quarterback Mark Gronowski. He is a human wrecking ball. His three rushing touchdowns last week against Rutgers were nothing short of impressive, and without his legs, this offense would still be stuck in the mud like years past.
Even though Gronowski has not topped 200 passing yards this season, I believe Iowa’s ground heavy attack can keep this within a single score. Playing in Iowa City is never easy. Meanwhile, Indiana is coming off a historic blowout win, and this feels like the perfect setup for a letdown. Iowa barely survived Rutgers, their defense looked shaky, and on paper this is a mismatch. But Indiana has a bye after this game, then a massive road trip to Eugene. That is a textbook sandwich spot. As ugly as it sounds to back an Iowa team that lives and dies on the ground, this sets up as the right time to take the points with the Hawkeyes.
This matchup is less about Indiana’s firepower and more about Iowa’s ability to drag the game into its style. The Hawkeyes have the quarterback in Mark Gronowski to extend drives and keep Indiana’s offense off the field. Iowa City provides one of the toughest environments in the conference, and with Indiana staring at a bye and a trip to Eugene, the spot lines up perfectly. It may not be pretty, and it rarely ever is with Iowa, but that is exactly why I like taking the points. I trust the Hawkeyes to keep this within striking distance.
Best Bet: Iowa +8 (-110) odds via BetOnline
Interested in More Content?
Get FREE Picks and Props Weekly
Sign up for
THE WEEKENDER NEWSLETTER
Follow me on X @ColbyMBets for all my picks and sports opinions. Follow Betting News on ‘X’ and Twitch and catch us on stream! Betting News is also on TikTok! Follow us for more picks and news every day!
In need of a sportsbook? Check out one of our favorites below among our best online sportsbooks and sign-up for a bonus!
