Preview: #17 Iowa Hawkeyes vs Miami (OH) Redhawks

A preview of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Miami (OH) week one matchup

The Iowa Hawkeyes start the season as the 17th best team in the AP Poll. For a team returning many key starters and coming off a 12-2 season, Iowa seems underrated, once again, and will have an uphill climb. The Hawkeyes will surely use that as motivation.

Luckily for the Hawkeyes, ESPN has titled week one The Best Opening Weekend in College Football History . There will be a couple of teams ahead of the Hawkeyes that fall or get put on upset alert. That could open the door for the Hawkeyes to jump up the rankings right away.

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The Hawkeyes opponent, the Miami (OH) Redhawks, are coming off a 3-9 season. Their 17.9 points per game ranked just 117th in the nation and they allowed 32 points per contest, ranking 95th in the nation.

A defense that struggles against the run and a turnover prone offense is the worst combination you can have against the Hawkeyes. Desmond King is coming off a school-record eight interceptions and Billy Bahl threw an atrocious 13 interceptions as a true freshman last season. The Redhawks will need to control the tempo of the game and not turn the ball over if they want a chance at upsetting Iowa.

Although, that’s easier said than done. Iowa sports a tough defensive line led by Jaleel Johnson with Josey Jewell clogging the lanes as one of the most underrated linebackers in the nation. The Redhawks averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in 2015 and rushed for negative yards against Wisconsin in week two last season. If Iowa gets to the quarterback then that’s a real possibility for one of the most stifling defenses in the Big Ten.

In a game Iowa should have no problem winning, not giving Miami (OH) any hope will be key. The last thing the Hawkeyes want is to risk injuries to key players, and the easiest way to avoid that is by getting out to a big lead so they can rest starters in the second half.

Appalachian State hung around with Tennessee and Furman played Michigan State tough. Iowa can’t come into the game thinking they already have the game won or else they’ll be on upset alert. It’s Miami (OH)’s first game, as well, therefore they’ll be just as excited and pumped to potentially pull of an upset. The last thing teams who are heavy favorites want to do is give the underdog any hope because it only adds pressure on them, with the underdog playing with more intensity.

must read: Hawkeyes Football: Three Players to Watch in Week One

Kirk Ferentz kept his team focused last season, though, and I would expect the same from them in week one. C.J. Beathard may get more of a chance to air it out, although I’d expect a heavy workload from LeShun Daniels Jr and Akrum Wadley.

The Iowa Hawkeyes will be back in action at 2:30CT on ESPNU. Kinnick Stadium will be rocking and there should be plenty to cheer about. The Hawkeyes averaged 30.9 points per game last season and seemingly have a more explosive offense in 2016.

Next: Hawkeyes Football: Bold Predictions for Week One

Prediction: 17 Iowa Hawkeyes 38 Miami (OH) 10

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