There are a few things you can count on with Iowa football on Saturdays during the season. Most bettors take the under on any game they are in, and they are rarely heavy favorites to win.
Before the exciting battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy is underway, the Hawkeyes have been tabbed as a two-touchdown favorite, and they are heavy favorites to take care of business against Iowa State. This is exceedingly rare for the Hawkeyes, who normally like to play the underdog role, but Iowa State is attempting to play spoiler this season. Sticking with the theme of Iowa as heavy favorites, the College Gameday crew gave Iowa the nod, but hopefully, it didn't jinx them in the process.
The College Gameday crew unanimously selected Iowa to beat Iowa State in week two
It is rare that the College Gameday crew overwhelmingly picks Iowa to win, especially in a rivalry game, but with multiple factors working in Iowa's favor this week, that is exactly what happened.
Oh boy pic.twitter.com/8AmuMi7gqW
— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) September 12, 2026
Iowa was the unanimous favorite, which echoes what most analysts have projected for the game this week. This could be the kiss of death for the Hawkeyes if they buy into it, and they can't let that happen. Iowa's as a unanimous favorite isn't something we see very often, and even with all the hype, they can't let it affect their mindset heading into this game. Iowa State would love to play spoiler and silence the early hype around the Hawkeyes. Iowa traditionally plays better as an underdog, but it won't have that luxury this season.
It isn't a bad thing that Iowa is getting a lot of pre-game praise, but it could also give Iowa State motivation, with no one giving them a chance. Neither program needs extra motivation for this game, and College Gameday might have unintentionally given Iowa State some. We aren't saying that Iowa State will come into Kinnick and blow Iowa's doors off, but they don't need any extra motivation to hang around in this game and keep it interesting.
For Iowa to live up to their pre-game hype, they must block out all the outside noise and execute the game plan like we all know they can. They have a lot of talented players across the board, but games aren't won on paper; they are won on the field. Staying focused will be key, and Iowa has to show its week one performance wasn't a fluke. No one is saying they need to put up 507 total yards of offense, but pristine execution is paramount. If Iowa sets the tone early, they have the potential to dominate this game, something all Hawkeye fans have been waiting for since Iowa's blowout 42-3 win in 2016.
This game has all the makings of another classic, and Iowa has a lot of things working in its favor before a challenging rivalry game in prime time.
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