Iowa Hawkeyes College Football Betting
Once again, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has confounded his critics. In the 2020 offseason, the Hawkeyes were said to be split apart racially. Multiple allegations from former and current African-American players about the program’s perceived lack of racial sensitivity led to the removal of long-time assistant coach Chris Doyle and the need for Ferentz to create a new approach and culture. The vast majority of the pajama boy media wrote off Iowa’s winningest coach as a sure failure that would be put out to pasture at the end of the 2020 campaign. Instead, Ferentz worked his coaching magic for a 6-2 season and a final national ranking of 16th in the land. In fact, Iowa rallied to win its last six games after an 0-2 start.
It was the second consecutive top-16 finish for the Hawkeyes. In fact, after a dry period of 2010 through 2014 in which the Hawkeyes finished out of the rankings, the program has transformed itself back into a winner. Once again, Iowa is nationally relevant.
Kirk Ferentz has been a winner through three decades as Iowa head coach because of his ability to adjust subtly. He may not wear a Look at Me badge on his jacket. Nor will he give a firebrand speech to show off to the masses about how in touch he is with his players. And if he is on Twitter, nobody has ever noticed. Instead, Ferentz is all about substance and depth. And 22 seasons on the job in Iowa City, he has mastered the art of change without bragging about it. Iowa enters the 2021 campaign once again ranked in the top-20 with Big Ten West Division title aspirations.
Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Odds
Odds to win National Championship: +10000
Odds to win Big Ten Conference: +1200
2021 Regular Season Win Total: 8.5
At age 66, Kirk Ferentz will field one of the best Iowa teams since he took over in 1999. Ferentz is the longest-tenured coach in the country yet never utters a discouraging word about the challenges of his job or retirement.
Certainly, there are many holes to fill in an Iowa lineup decimated by graduation and NFL departures. The offensive and defensive lines will need to be refortified, as will the wide receiver and linebacker positions. But this is where Ferentz has always succeeded because he recruits and demands strong character. Additionally, defensive coordinator Phil Parker has been through such drills before and always manages to replenish his top units.
All-America center Tyler Linderbaum and All-Big Ten running back Tyler Goodson leads the returnees. Spencer Petras is also back as an experienced quarterback with plenty of upsides. Petras had accuracy issues in 2020 but has had a full offseason to work out the kinks and develop confidence.
2021 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule
| Date |
Opponent |
Score |
Record |
| Sep 4 |
vs. Indiana |
- |
- |
| Sep 11 |
at Iowa State |
- |
- |
| Sep 18 |
vs. Kent State |
- |
- |
| Sep 25 |
vs. Colorado State |
- |
- |
| Oct 1 |
at Maryland |
- |
- |
| Oct 9 |
vs. Penn State |
- |
- |
| Oct 16 |
vs. Purdue |
- |
- |
| Oct 23 |
OFF |
- |
- |
| Oct 30 |
at Wisconsin |
- |
- |
| Nov 6 |
at Northwestern |
- |
- |
| Nov 13 |
vs. Minnesota |
- |
- |
| Nov 20 |
vs. Illinois |
- |
- |
| Nov 26 |
at Nebraska |
- |
- |
| Dec 4 |
Big Ten Championship (Indianapolis, IN) |
- |
- |
The September 4 season opener at Kinnick Stadium against the visiting and tough Indiana Hoosiers will be a certain wake-up call. Indiana is feeling good after their best season since 1967. And the following week’s September 11 game at the Iowa State Cyclones will be as or more difficult.
October 9 will bring the Penn State Nittany Lions to Kinnick Stadium. This is the type of game that Iowa often rallies to win in front of their home fans. In fact, Kinnick Stadium is where the dreams of Blue Blood name-brand programs go to die.
October 30 is a brutally tough road date at the Wisconsin Badgers in what is annually one of the hardest-hitting games of the season.
Iowa hosts the Minnesota Golden Gophers for the Floyd of Rosedale bronze pig on November 13. And the regular season finale will be at the desperate Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 26.
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