The vibes are high for the Buckeyes (3-1) as they roll into Iowa City this Saturday. After bouncing back from a tough road loss to Texas with a 42-19 statement win over Illinois, junior quarterback Julian Sayin is looking to keep that momentum going.
The Hawkeyes are locked in
Iowa (4-0) is lowkey the surprise of the season so far. They’re coming off a heart-stopping 20-19 road win over Michigan, thanks to senior quarterback Hank Brown steering the ship for head coach Kirk Ferentz.
The numbers game
If you’re looking at the lines, Ohio State is currently a 14.5-point favorite. The over/under sits at 45.5 points. However, the SportsLine Projection Model—which has simulated this matchup 10,000 times—is leaning toward the Under.
The model predicts a grind-it-out, low-scoring affair. Considering Iowa’s defense has been keeping things tight all season, the model sees a final tally around 44 combined points, with the Under hitting 52% of the time. The model is also pointing toward one side of the spread hitting in over 50% of simulations, making this a must-watch for anyone tracking the action.
Why it matters
This is a major test for Ohio State to prove they can dominate on the road, while Iowa has the chance to cement their status as a real-deal Big Ten contender. Tune in at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+ to see who brings that main character energy to Kinnick Stadium.
