Rutgers vs. Iowa odds, props, predictions: Another record low OVER/UNDER on the books for Hawkeyes

There are a few sure-fire ways to get kicked out of a bar this Saturday. Insult the bartender. Attempt to pay with an expired credit card. Knock a fellow patron off their stool. Demand that Iowa and Rutgers be shown on the big screen.

On a weekend that also features Oregon and USC matched up in a game in which oddsmakers set the total at 73.5, the Hawkeyes and Scarlet Knights will take the field at Kinnick Stadium in a game that’s expected to be by far the lowest-scoring affair on the schedule. The books set the opening total for Rutgers vs. Iowa as low 28.5, and it even went as low as 27.5 Thursday at Caesars Sportsbook.

The current total is . If it stays below 30.5 by kickoff, it will be a record low for an FBS college football OVER/UNDER.

Handicapping Rutgers vs. Iowa odds requires answering the same question you deal with in a limbo contest: How low can you go?

Kickoff between Iowa (7-2) and Rutgers (6-3, 6-1-2) in Iowa City will be at 2:30 p.m. local time (3:30 ET), and temperatures are expected to be in the high 40s or low 50s with no rain in the forecast. So, Mother Nature won’t be standing in the way of this total being surpassed. 

Rutgers vs. Iowa odds: Point spread, moneyline, total

Here are the latest college football betting odds for the Scarlet Knights vs. Hawkeyes:

The Iowa vs. Minnesota game on Oct. 21 closed with a total of 30.5, setting a new record. The Hawkeyes went on to lose to the Gophers 12-10, suffering just their second setback of the season.

Last week’s game at Wrigley Field against Northwestern, which opened with a total of 29.5 and closed at 32, saw the Hawkeyes win 10-7, which means those that bet the UNDER cruised despite probably not appreciating the prospect of multiple extra sessions foiling their bet.

Fortunately for those who cashed on the low side, Iowa scored on a 52-yard field goal from Drew Stevens with 14 seconds left to avoid overtime.

Other games near the record low have come in the past two seasons. Last week’s Army vs. Air Force game, which the Black Knights won 23-3, closed at 31.5, as did games involving Iowa last season against Minnesota and Kentucky. In both of those games, the UNDER cashed.

More college football betting previews: Michigan vs. Penn State odds, props, predictions | USC vs. Oregon odds, props, predictions | Alabama vs. Kentucky odds, props, predictions | Ole Miss vs. Georgia odds, props, predictions

Rutgers odds and betting breakdown

Already bowl eligible after securing its sixth win of the season with a 31-14 conquest of Indiana in Bloomington on Oct. 21, the Scarlet Knights have already won more games than they have since 2014. That is the program’s last winning season and it was achieved under current Texas offensive coordinator Kyle Flood.

Rutgers comes off a 35-16 loss against Ohio State in Piscataway, producing its third-lowest scoring output of the season. The Scarlet Knights are 0-3 when held under 17 points, averaging 12.0 in their defeats, and 6-0 in all their other games, averaging 34.2 points in their wins.

Greg Schiano’s team is perfect straight up as a favorite (5-1 ATS), and winless as an underdog (1-0-2 ATS). Rutgers has pushed and covered by a half-point in its straight-up losses as an underdog.

RU led Ohio State at halftime 9-7 last week and pulled within 21-16 on a Gavin Wimsatt touchdown pass to JaQuae Jackson with 14:07 remaining in the fourth quarter, putting the Buckeyes on upset alert. The Scarlet Knights outgained Ohio State 361-328, picked up 22 first downs and held their undefeated visitors to just 15, and got 159 rushing yards from junior back Kyle Monangai, who has now gained a Big Ten-best 903 on the season, averaging 100.3 per game.

Monangai had just one 100-yard rushing game entering this season but has topped the century mark in six of nine games, including each of the last three. He gained 25 yards on six carries against Iowa last season.

Wimsatt threw for just 129 yards against Ohio State and hasn’t surpassed 200 passing yards since a 27-21 loss at Michigan State on Nov. 12 of last season, which is the only time he’s done that in his career. He was unable to play in last season’s 27-10 loss to Iowa due to injury, so this will be the Hawkeyes’ first look at him.

Rutgers is making only its second career trip into Iowa City, losing 30-0 in one of its final games under former head coach Chris Ash. It was outgained 438-125. The Scarlet Knights are 0-3 against the Hawkeyes since joining the Big Ten, covering only once.

RU is hoping to have senior nose tackle Mayan Ahanotu, one of its captains and top run stuffers, available after missing the Ohio State game due to injury. Star LB Tyreem Powell was lost for the season after undergoing hand surgery last month.

Iowa odds and betting breakdown

Iowa is now 15-1 in its last 16 games in the regular season’s final month, with eight of those victories decided by seven or fewer points. 

The Hawkeyes snuck out of Chicago with a victory against Northwestern despite passing for just 65 yards. It was outgained 170-169 and committed the game’s only turnover on sophomore QB Deacon Hill’s interception on the opening drive of the second quarter.

He connected with tight end Addison Ostrenga three times, hitting him on a 2-yard TD pass. Ostrenga is one of the bodies attempting to replace top tight ends Erick All (ACL) and Luke Lachey (ankle), who have been lost to season-ending injuries.

Iowa has been unlucky on both sides of the ball, losing numerous members of its two-deep. While it avoided consecutive losses and leads the Big Ten West Division with a 4-2 record, the Hawkeyes have been a mess offensively since losing Michigan transfer Cade McNamara to a torn ACL on Sept. 30. 

Hill, a transfer from Wisconsin, has completed just 41.6 percent of his passes for 492 yards on the season and hasn’t thrown for more than 116 yards in a single game since taking over. He’s been picked off in four of five games, so you can count on the Hawkeyes employing a heavy dose of sophomore Leshon Williams.

Kaleb Johnson, who came into the season as the top back but curiously didn’t play against Northwestern, is listed as No. 2 on the team depth chart this week and should return to action.

There’s no secret to what the Hawkeyes are looking to do as they look to handle business against Rutgers, Illinois and Nebraska to close out the month as they try and reach another Big Ten championship game. Iowa will ride its run game, defense, kicker and punter and look to outlast its opponents over 60 minutes. 

Despite all of these low totals the books hang on them, games involving the Hawkeyes are 37-19-1 to the UNDER since 2019, which includes a 7-2 run on the season. They’ve averaged 12.7 points over the last three games and have managed to win two of them, which includes a 15-10 win at Wisconsin that has put them in a position of strength in the West.

Iowa has allowed just 8.3 points over its last three contests, and 11 per game over its last five. For the season, it is surrendering 13.7 points per game, fourth in the nation behind Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State.

Bet on the Rutgers vs. Iowa OVER/UNDER using the latest college football betting promos and bonuses at the best CFB betting sites. 

Rutgers vs. Iowa props

Player props for Rutgers vs. Iowa are tough to find at online sportsbooks, but at FanDuel, you can set your own over/under for what oddsmakers already expect to be a low-scoring game.

Here's a look at the those Rutgers vs. Iowa alternate total props and odds as of Thursday morning:

• 22.5: OVER -275; UNDER +205
• 24.5: OVER -188; UNDER +150
• 26.5: OVER -136; UNDER +110
• 28.5: OVER -106; UNDER -116
• 30.5: OVER +132; UNDER -164
• 32.5: OVER +158; UNDER -198
• 34.5: OVER +205; UNDER -275

Rutgers vs. Iowa OVER/UNDER prediction

The UNDER in Iowa games has connected four straight times despite all the totals being set in the 30s. We know how the Hawkeyes are going to approach this game, having seen this act of them rightfully having little confidence in another of their starting quarterbacks time after time over the past few seasons.

The key to seeing a higher-scoring game than expected is tied to a Rutgers breakthrough, and unless it gets down early, a conservative approach suits it well, too. In the three meetings between these programs, the final scores have been 14-7, 30-0 and 27-10.

Even with the lowest total in FBS history set to be deployed, it’s smartest to play limbo and hope for no pick-sixes, scoop-and-scores or special teams magic. Left to their own devices, neither offense figures to get the job done.

Pick: UNDER