This week brings Iowa State’s intrastate showdown against the hated Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa State has struggled in this series but seems poised to make a serious threat on Saturday. Iowa’s offense remains a slog. The Hawkeyes will never change under Kirk Ferentz. The Cyclones opened their 2025 campaign in Ireland against the Kansas State Wildcats. It was a difficult opening College Football Betting assignment against one of the favorites to win the Big 12 Conference. They were more prepared and made fewer mistakes. The win epitomized the difference-maker that head coach Matt Campbell is.
Iowa Hawkeyes at Iowa State Cyclones Betting NCAAF Information
| Date and Time: | Saturday, September 6, 2025, noon ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA |
| TV Coverage: | FOX |
Iowa Hawkeyes Team Overview
Last week, the Iowa Hawkeyes won 34-7 against Albany as 39-point home favorites. The game went under the offshore betting total of 49. Even when Mark Gronowski did something right in his Iowa football debut, something went wrong. It was that kind of Saturday for the South Dakota State transfer and the Hawkeyes.
On a second-and-goal from Albany’s 1-yard line midway through the third quarter, Gronowski took a shotgun snap and powered up the middle for his first rushing touchdown as a Hawkeye. But shortly after he got up to be celebrated by his teammates, he fell back to the ground.
Gronowski exited midway through the third quarter after cramping again and didn’t return. In sum, he finished with this stat line: 8-for-15 passing for 44 yards and a touchdown. Also, he had 11 rushes for 39 yards and a touchdown. Against Albany, a team he throttled in the 2023 FCS semifinals, those stats behind a stellar FBS offensive line were disappointing.
Iowa State Cyclones Team Overview
In last week’s home opener, the Iowa State Cyclones won 55-7 against the South Dakota Coyotes as 16.5-point home favorites. The game went over the total of 47.5. Namely, Rocco Becht delivered one of the most efficient performances in program history. In sum, he completed 19 of 20 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns. His 95 percent completion rate set a school record, and he extended his streak to 20 consecutive games with a touchdown pass.
Becht found tight end Benjamin Brahmer for two scores. While Gabe Burkle added a 16-yard touchdown reception. Brahmer finished with seven catches for 47 yards. And then Burkle led the team in receiving yards with 85. The Cyclones leaned heavily on their tight ends once again, with 13 of 23 completions going to the position group.
The highlight of the first half came when kicker Kyle Konrardy drilled a 63-yard field goal as time expired, setting both a school and stadium record. To illuminate, the kick ranks as the second-longest in Big 12 history.
South Dakota briefly tied the game at 7-7 when quarterback Aidan Bouman connected with Larenzo Fenner for a six-yard touchdown. Previously, Bouman was an Iowa State reserve, finishing 15 of 29 for 126 yards with one score and two interceptions. That would be the Coyotes’ lone highlight, as the Cyclones responded with 48 unanswered points.
Iowa State’s rushing attack took over in the second half. Dylan Lee led all rushers with 81 yards and a touchdown. Also, Abu Sama III, Xavier Townsend, and freshman quarterback Alex Manske each added scores on the ground.
Iowa at Iowa State SBG Free Picks
On this occasion, Iowa will offer more value as the equal team getting the College Football Betting road price.
Iowa at Iowa State SBG Best Bet: Iowa Hawkeyes.

