Iowa vs. Rutgers:
Friday night lights shine on Piscataway as Rutgers hosts Iowa in a Big Ten showdown that should set the tone for both programs moving forward. The Scarlet Knights bring momentum into this matchup, riding a three-game winning streak and putting up gaudy offensive numbers against lesser competition. Iowa, meanwhile, comes in with a stingy defense and a chip on their shoulder after a bounce-back performance last week. It is a clash of styles, with Rutgers’ offense looking to prove it is for real and Iowa aiming to control the game through physicality and discipline. This one should be telling.
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Week 3 Results: 5-2 (+2.84u)
Iowa vs. Rutgers 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 15, 2025 a 11:24 a.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
- Iowa -2.5 (-115)
- Rutgers +2.5(-105)
Moneyline
- Iowa -140
- Rutgers +120
Total
- Over 45 (-116)
- Under 45 (-105)
Iowa vs. Rutgers – September 19
Little Friday night action over in Piscataway, New Jersey, for this Big Ten clash. Both teams enter off wins, looking to continue their winning ways. Rutgers is riding a three-game streak with victories over Ohio, Miami (OH), and Norfolk State this past weekend. Iowa, meanwhile, bounced back with a dominant win over UMass after their tough loss to rival Iowa State. Despite that ugly loss to the Cyclones, the Iowa Hawkeyes are my play in this matchup.
Trust the Hawkeyes
I grabbed them at -1 on Sunday morning at $1.10. I probably should have just paid the extra ten cents for the -120 moneyline, but I was not feeling it. I suggest paying the juice here and taking Iowa outright to win.
I go back to how Ohio looked against Rutgers in Week 1. The Bobcats should have won that game. They put up nearly 450 yards of offense, throwing for almost 240 and rushing for over 200 against this Scarlet Knights defense. They averaged 7.1 yards per play. I had plenty of respect for Ohio entering the season, but I did not expect them to push Rutgers that close as a 15-point underdog.
Rutgers vs. Iowa Defense
Now, Iowa is not rolling out a juggernaut offense. Anyone who watched the Cy-Hawk game saw exactly what the Hawkeyes bring on that side of the ball. The scheme is finally modern, but the weapons are not there. What Iowa does have is a phenomenal defense. Two of their three opponents have been held under double digits, including UMass, who managed fewer than 120 total yards last week.
Rutgers has not yet seen a defense of this caliber. Yes, they are averaging over 46 points per game, but they have not lined up against anything resembling a Kirk Ferentz unit.
Like any Iowa game, this one comes down to the defense locking down Rutgers and the offense doing just enough to put points on the board. I do not hold much respect for the Scarlet Knights defense. If Ohio and Miami (OH) can score 15-plus on them, I believe Mark Gronowski and the Hawkeyes can scratch out enough points to get the win.
At the end of the day, this game sets up as a classic Iowa blueprint. Defense travels, and I trust the Hawkeyes to dictate the tempo and force Rutgers into uncomfortable spots. The Scarlet Knights have not seen a defense like this, and I expect that reality to hit them hard on Friday night. While Iowa’s offense is far from explosive, they will do enough to put points on the board and grind this one out. I am backing Iowa to walk out of Piscataway with a win, covering the number and proving to be the tougher side.
Best Bet: Iowa Moneyline (-140) odds via BetOnline
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