The Washington Huskies are riding high after their 27-17 win over the Michigan Wolverines. Emotions were high after as the Husky crowed spilled onto the field as the scoreboard showed zeros. In the locker room head coach, Jedd Fisch, gave the game ball to every player that played in the national championship.
The Huskies now have to turn their attention to Iowa and a 9:00 am kickoff at Kinnink Stadium. There is a fear that a big-win hangover plus an early kickoff could spell trouble for the Dawgs.
The Hawkeyes come into the matchup after getting beat up by one of the best teams in the country. Ohio State beat up Iowa for 60 minutes. They manhandled the Hawkeye defense putting up over 400 yards and 35 points.
Both teams are at an impasse in their season. The Hawkeyes have a chance to go on a run with a schedule that will see Iowa as clear favorites until maybe Nebraska. If they win this game they could be looking at only two conference losses and a nine-win season.
Saying that Washington has a tougher remaining schedule is an understatement. The Huskies need to stack wins against teams like Iowa as Penn Sate, USC, and Oregon loom. The Huskies are balanced and talented enough to win any game left on their schedule, but are also capable of losing most matchups left to play.
Iowa brings the same style they have been playing for years. They play defense, play the field position battle, and run the ball.
The defense is clearly the strength of this program. Like many former Big 10 west teams Iowa has game changers at linebacker. Senior linebackers Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson are fundamentally sound and shut down runs between the tackles. The defensive backs are also sure tacklers who are active in the running game. They lost some talent to the NFL and have not been as elite as they were last year.
On the offensive side of the ball they have one of the best running backs in the country. Kaleb Johnson averages almost 8 yards a carry and has accounted for 10 of the teams 16 offensive touchdowns. He has carried the ball 97 times in five games and has more yards than the quarterbacks.
Quarterback Cade McNamara has made a career out of handing the ball off to talented running backs. His first stop was at Michigan where he beat Washington 31-10 completing 7 of 15 passes for 44 yards. In their two losses this year he has failed to throw over 100 yards and has committed three interceptions.
One matchup to watch will be Washington’s passing game. The defensive backs cover well and tackle well, but the size of Denzel Boston and Jeremiah Hunter pose a threat to the corners. Will Rogers has done a great job distributing the ball and Hunter has yet to have the breakout game he is capable of. Keleki Latu also poses a threat as the linebackers are excellent in stopping the run but can be exposed in coverage.
On the defensive side of the ball Washington has to key on Kaleb Johnson. The Hawkeye O-line is really physical and Washington is down a couple guys on the line. The linebackers and safeties will be paramount in filling the gaps and limiting Johnson on 1st down. If Washington is able to keep Iowa in third-and-medium Cade McNamara does not have the tools to beat this secondary.
Iowa is favored by three points with a point total of 41.5 meaning Vegas sees this around a 22-19 Hawkeye win. Washington has an uphill battle after an emotional win and an early kick, but I see a Husky program that finally put it all together to play relatively clean game. Washington has the defense to limit Kaleb Johnson and shut down McNamara. I see this as a game where Washington sustains long drives with elite running backs and finds ways to get their bigger pass-catchers the ball in the red zone.
Washington 24 Iowa 13
My Bet: Washington +3, Under 41.5
