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Iowa Hawkeyes vs Minnesota: Three Bold Predictions
Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Three bold predictions for Iowa’s meeting with Minnesota this week
The Floyd of Rosedale trophy is on the line this week when the Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Golden Gophers take the field. While this game has resulted in blowouts for both sides over recent years, it’s expected to be a highly contested game this year.
Iowa enters the game 3-2 with the fear of falling to .500 and dropping their third game in four weeks. This is an important week for Iowa to get their season back on track as they still have a lot to play for in the second half of the season.
On the other hand, Minnesota is coming off a tough three-point defeat to Penn State a week ago. The Gophers fell in overtime, resulting in their first loss of the season. Minnesota, just like Iowa, had high hopes coming into the year, although they’ll be out of the Big Ten West picture with a loss to Iowa on Saturday.
Both teams should be ready to play and it wouldn’t be surprising to see another high-scoring game. That being said, here are three bold predictions for when Iowa tries to defend the Floyd of Rosedale trophy this week against Minnesota.
Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa Gains More Rushing Yards
It’s impossible to escape the criticism that Iowa’s defensive line has received this year. A year removed from allowing a mere 3.6 yards per carry, Iowa has given up 4.2 yards per rush in 2016. They now take on a rushing attack that is gaining five yards per carry and averaging 228.3 rushing yards per game.
The Gophers run the ball 12.2 times more than Iowa this season. Iowa isn’t afraid to abandon the run and air it out with C.J. Beathard, although that style of play hasn’t always worked well. Still, both teams want to run the ball, even if they attack defenses differently.
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Minnesota likes to use the speed of quarterback Mitch Leidner and run a read option with their dynamic running back duo of Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks. On the other hand, the Hawkeyes try to run straight up the gut of the defense with their duo of LeShun Daniels Jr and Akrum Wadley.
Iowa has still managed to gain a respectable 143.2 yards on the ground this season, although opposing teams are gaining 182.8 yards on the ground against them. Not to mention that each of their last three opponents topped 190 rushing yards. In fact, Iowa has failed to gain more rushing yards than their opponent since week two when they out-rushed Iowa State, 198-126.
Minnesota has had no problem establishing their dominating run attack. They’re coming off their third straight 200-plus rushing yards game and have gained at least 60 more yards than their opponent every game.
Iowa’s defensive line is in for a tough task this week. Although, the Gophers want to run and won’t go away from it. While that could be bad news if Iowa can’t stop the run, they also know that they need to hone in on the ground game to win.
LeShun Daniels Jr and Akrum Wadley have put up respectable numbers since their hot start to the season, however they’re due for a big game. Iowa will need to win the ground game if they want to take home the Floyd of Rosedale trophy, again. Therefore, I think they’ll buckle down and play inspired football as they try to keep their Big Ten West dreams alive.
Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa Leads by 10+ Points in the First Half
Over the past three weeks, starting slow has been a common theme for the Hawkeyes. That can’t happen against Minnesota this week. The crowd will be raucous and Iowa will need to weather the storm early if they want to come away with a victory.
Unlike how they played against Rutgers, Iowa needs to contain Minnesota’s offense early and make a couple of big plays to deflate some of the air out of the crowd. It’s easier said than done, though.
In fact, Iowa hasn’t led by double-digits in a game, let alone in the first half, since week two against Iowa State. The Hawkeyes have held touchdown leads in each of their last three games, although have failed to deliver the finishing blow on a team to put them away.
Minnesota doesn’t get off to fast starts, either. That being said, Iowa failed to jump on top of Rutgers in their first road game. Rutgers is one of the worst first quarter teams in the nation, however Iowa failed to score and a couple of costly penalties on Rutgers saved them from going down early.
While the Gophers aren’t as atrocious to start games as Rutgers, they haven’t dominated teams early and put teams away. In fact, they had to come back against Oregon State in week one. Plus, their biggest first quarter lead this season is a mere seven-point lead over Indiana State, 14-7.
Seasons are on the line and it’s a rivalry game. Minnesota’s crowd will be rocking despite it being an 11 a.m. game. Iowa knows they can’t afford to get off to another poor start, therefore establishing a run game and containing their offense early could be enough to get them off to a fast start and put away the Gophers early.
Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Desmond King Returns a Kick for a Touchdown
Desmond King is so close to returning a kick for a touchdown every week. He leads the Big Ten with 295 kick return yards and averaging 29.5 yards per kickoff return. King also ranks third in the Big Ten in punt return yards with 114 on the season — ranking fourth in punt return yards average with 11.4.
Despite King arguably being the best returner in the Big Ten this year, he has failed to return any kick for a touchdown in his career. Although, he has been extremely close these past two weeks.
Following Rutgers lone touchdown against Iowa, King returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards to the 48 yard line. He had the kicker to beat and nearly gave Iowa the lead back. Iowa didn’t score on that drive, however it set up Iowa perfectly for a go-ahead touchdown.
Last week, it seemed like every time King touched the ball he was going to bring it back to the house. On seven total returns, King compiled 162 return yards — 23.1 yards per return.
The closest King was to a touchdown, though, was when Northwestern’s punter, Hunter Niswander, booted a short 35 yard punt and King caught it on the run and returned it to the five yard line. Despite not finding the end zone, he set the offense up perfectly for a five-yard touchdown run by Akrum Wadley on the next play.
Minnesota has yet to allow a touchdown on special teams this year, although they haven’t faced a returner like King yet. The Gophers will likely try to keep the ball away from King on punts, however on kickoffs that’s not always an option.
With the way Iowa’s offense has moved recently, any boost in scoring or better field position helps. The return game is often an overlooked facet of football, however it can drastically change field position and King’s impact as a returner has been a bright spot all season.
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