Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Maryland Terrapins Prediction, Pick and Preview, October 1 (10/1): NCAAF
- Range
- Oct 1, 2021, 5:26:36 AM
Credit: photo by Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Odds
| Time | 9:00 p.m. EST |
| Hawkeyes money line | -165 |
| Hawkeyes spread | -3.5 (-110) |
| Terrapins money line | +140 |
| Terrapins spread | +3.5 (-110) |
| Over / under | 47.5 |
Preview
The Iowa Hawkeyes will travel south and take on the Maryland Terrapins for a Big Ten battle. Both schools enter this contest undefeated.
Iowa was able to avoid the upset and take care of Colorado State last weekend, while Maryland enters on the heels of their fourth straight win as well, a 37-16 win over Kent State.
Offensive matchup
Iowa
Spencer Petras made the impressive throws in the win last weekend. The junior quarterback went 15-23 for 224 passing yards while tossing multiple touchdowns for the first time this season with one interception. Petras was decent in his first road test against Iowa State, but the Hawkeyes might need more from him this time around.
Tyler Goodson gained 91 all-purpose yards in the win over Colorado State, but failed to score for the first time this year. Goodson leads the team with 364 rushing yards on 80 carries, and five scores.
Kirk Ferentz has leaned heavily on the ground game so far, and hasn't asked for much more than blocking from his pass catchers. Junior Sam LaPorta might be the next great Iowa tight end in line, and he leads the team with 17 catches for 214 receiving yards and two scores. Nico Ragaini leads the wideouts with nine catches for 113 yards.
Maryland
Taulia Tagovailoa has been the catalyst to the Terps great start. He's settled all the way in after transferring from Alabama, and he might just crash the party in the Big Ten this season. Tagovailoa is coming off of a season high 384 passing yards, bringing his season totals to 1,340 yards, with ten touchdowns to just one interception.
Tayon Fleet-Davis brings experience and versatility to the backfield. He's gained for 311 rushing yards on 44 carries, with 14 catches for 102 receiving yards. Fleet-Davis scored twice in the win over Kent State, bringing his season total to five (four rush, one rec).
Dontay Demus Jr. leads a talented group of wideouts. The senior receiver ranks tenth in the country with 446 receiving yards on 24 receptions with three touchdowns. Rakim Jarrett is second on the team with 17 catches for 265 yards and three scores.
Defensive matchup
Iowa has returned another stingy defense, as they've yet to allow more than 20 points in a game through four weeks. Junior linebacker Jack Campbell leads the with 43 tackles.
Maryland had another strong weekend defensively, getting to the quarterback five times, forcing a pair of turnovers, and making Kent State go 4/16 on third downs.
Prediction
Iowa has earned their top-five ranking and proved defense can travel, but deficiencies on the offensive end could find them in trouble in College Park. Taulia Tagovailoa is a star, and he could show the nation this Friday night. We like the Terrapins aerial attack and we trust their lead signal caller. Take Maryland's moneyline, but beware of an annually strong Iowa team.
PICK: Maryland Terrapins +14.5
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