Iowa-Purdue Betting Odds

Before we break down the Iowa-Purdue betting odds for Week 7, I do think that it is important to point out one thing: The Hawkeyes have somehow climbed all the way up to No. 2 in the polls.

I’m just as shocked as you are.

Coming off of a win against Penn State on Saturday, Iowa now sits in the driver’s seat for a spot in the Playoff, and while the Hawkeyes deserve all the credit in the world for doing what they needed to do in order to win last week, it is very important to point out one thing: Penn State was dominating that game when Sean Clifford went down. Smarter men than me believe that the Nittany Lions were, in fact, the better team in that game before Penn State lost their QB.

It is what it is.

That said, Purdue is not Penn State, and while there are question marks about Iowa’s offense, there hasn’t been anyone in the country that is better at forcing turnovers than Iowa’s defense. They are monstrous.

Longtime college sports writer Rob Dauster, the co-founder of The Field of 68 and The Field of 12 Network is here to break down the tantalizing matchup and dissect the Iowa-Purdue betting odds for Week 7 of the college football season.

Until then, as an NCAA fan, you can check NFL betting odds and get ready to place a bet at BetRivers.

WEEK 7 BETTING ODDS: WEEKEND GUIDE | MICHIGAN STATE-INDIANA | GEORGIA-KENTUCKY |

PURDUE-IOWA BETTING ODDS:

PURDUE (3-2) at #2 IOWA (6-0)
GAME: 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
MONEYLINE: Iowa (-715), Purdue (+450)
SPREAD: Iowa (-11.5)
TOTAL: 43 points

PURDUE-IOWA PREDICTION:

So here’s the thing about this game: I think Iowa is really overvalued.

I’ve already walked you through why.

You’ll never convince me that Sean Clifford’s injury isn’t the only reason that the Hawkeyes don’t currently have a loss. Penn State was in complete control of that game when Cliff went down. And while Iowa had to make that comeback and score those touchdowns and win that game, if there was a competent high school quarterback on Penn State’s bench, that game would have turned out differently.

That is my truth and I’m taking it to my grave.

That said, I am not entirely convinced by Purdue. Look, as good as their defense can be, and as impressive as some of their performances were early in the season, the Boilermakers are still a team that has dealt with some turnovers this season. And if there is one thing that we know about Iowa, it is that their ability to force turnovers is the ultimate game-changer. One pick-six or one fumble deep in their own territory is just such an impact play, and Iowa has been creating those plays more than anyone else in college football.

This line opened at (-14.5). I loved it then. I hit it then. But it only took a few hours to move to (-12), and is now sitting at (-11.5). That is still a lot of points, and in a game with a total of just 43, I will always lean towards taking the underdog, but I think the better play here is going to be the under. I just don’t see Purdue consistently moving the ball down the field, and while I do think Iowa will make some plays defensively, I think that if they can avoid any disastrous turnovers, the Boilermakers do have enough defensively to limit Iowa.

I see this game ending in the 21-10 range, so I’ll bet on that.