The Albany Great Danes take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City, Iowa, on Saturday, August 30. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET on FS1.
Iowa is favored by -38.5 points on the spread, while Albany comes in at +38.5. The total, meanwhile, is set at 50.5 points.
Here’s my Albany vs. Iowa prediction and college football picks for Saturday, August 30.
Albany vs Iowa Prediction
- Albany vs. Iowa Pick: Under 50.5
My Iowa vs. Albany best bet is on both teams to go under the total. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Albany vs Iowa Odds, Spread
| Albany Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+38.5 -105 | 50.5 -110o / -110u | N/A |
| Iowa Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-38.5 -115 | 50.5 -110o / -110u | N/A |
Albany vs Iowa College Football Betting Preview
Iowa should win this game with ease, but it has a reason to take it slow.
The Hawkeyes have in-state rival Iowa State coming up and won’t want to show a lot on film with new quarterback Mark Gronowski ready to take over the reins under center. While it's not a conference clash, that game against the Cyclones will go a long way in determining how Iowa's season will go.
The Hawkeyes also handed the ball off on 64% of plays last season, which was the fifth-highest mark nationally.
Now, looking to evaluate a new running back room with four potential contributors and break in a new left tackle, they should continue to keep running the ball early and often. Doing just that will allow the clock to keep ticking.
Plus, Kaleb Johnson isn't getting off that bus. The 2024 Big Ten Running Back of the Year and third-round NFL Draft pick had a knack for breaking off big plays when his team needed it, but Iowa's explosiveness may fall off a cliff without him.
Defensively, Iowa didn't have a dominant unit last season, ranking 73rd in Success Rate allowed. But will that matter against a middling FCS team? I doubt it.
For what it's worth, Iowa has allowed a grand total of three points in its last two games against FCS teams and dominated Illinois State in a 40-0 shutout a season ago.
While the Hawkeyes may have struggled relative to defensive coordinator Phil Parker's expectations, they still ranked third nationally in Explosiveness allowed. That means the Great Danes will have to methodically move the ball against Iowa, which has proven to be a tall task for FCS foes in the past few years.
Albany vs Iowa Pick, Betting Analysis
I'd expect Iowa to come through with a boring game plan as it prepares for next week's Cy-Hawk game against Iowa State.
Meanwhile, Albany averaged 19.6 points per game last season, good for 104th in FCS. That's not going to get it done against a Parker defense that's looking to get back to being one of the nation's best.
Iowa could hit the over by itself if it unleashes Gronowski and doesn't care about its game next week, but that shouldn't be the case.
I expect Iowa to play a conservative game offensively and for its defense to keep the Great Danes off the board for the majority of the matchup. I'd bet the under at 49 or better.
Pick: Under 50.5 (Play to 49)
