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Penn State vs Iowa Prediction, Odds, Picks, Time — 10/18

Penn State vs Iowa Prediction, Odds, Picks, Time — 10/18 article feature image
4 min read
Credit:

Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images. Pictured: Mark Gronowski (Iowa)

Starting soon
Odds Updating Soon
Matchup - 10/18 11:00pm UTCSpreadTotalMoneyline
+3-110
o41.5-105
+136
-3-110
u41.5-115
-162

The Penn State Nittany Lions take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City, IA. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Peacock.

Iowa is favored by -3 points on the spread with a moneyline of -150. The total is set at 40.5 points.

Here’s my Penn State vs. Iowa prediction and college football picks for Saturday, October 18, 2025.


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Penn State Nittany Lions vs Iowa Hawkeyes Prediction, Picks

Penn State vs. Iowa Pick: Iowa -3

My Iowa vs. Penn State best bet is on the Hawkeyes spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.


Penn State vs Iowa Odds, Spread, Line

Penn State Logo
Saturday, October 18
7 p.m. ET
Peacock
Iowa Logo
Penn State Odds
SpreadTotalMoneyline
+3.5
-120
41.5
-105o / -115u
+136
Iowa Odds
SpreadTotalMoneyline
-3.5
-102
41.5
-105o / -115u
-162
Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute NCAAF odds here.
FanDuel Logo
  • Penn State vs Iowa Spread: Iowa -3.5, Penn State +3.5
  • Penn State vs Iowa Total Points: 41.5
  • Penn State vs Iowa ML: Penn State ML +136, Iowa ML -162

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Penn State vs Iowa College Football Betting Preview

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Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Preview

Nobody could've ever imagined that this is how it would end for James Franklin in State College, but such is life sometimes in college football.

Franklin was a consistent winner, and just last season the Nittany Lions were one or two plays away from competing in the National Championship.

After a heartbreaking overtime loss to Oregon, things unraveled in a hurry, with back-to-back defeats to bottom-feeders UCLA and Northwestern.

Franklin was fired after the Northwestern loss, and star quarterback Drew Allar suffered a season-ending injury.

Redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer will make his first ever start in Iowa City, which is about as difficult as a debut as you could draw up.

I hate to sound bleak, but I don't see the Nittany Lions salvaging much this season. I'd actually go as far as to say that I'd be somewhat surprised if Penn State reaches bowl eligibility.

There are too many tough games remaining, and I don't see interim head coach Terry Smith being a needle mover to turn things around with a brand-new quarterback.

In this matchup in particular, Iowa will be able to key in on Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen and force Grunkemeyer to beat it with his arm. I don't think that's going to end favorably for Penn State.

When Iowa has the ball, look for it to lean on its ground game. Penn State really struggled to stop the run — particularly the quarterback run — against UCLA, and it also allowed some methodical, long touchdown drives against Northwestern.

Ultimately, I have serious doubts as to what type of energy Penn State will come out with in this game. If there's one team you can ill afford to come out flat against, it's Iowa.


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Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview

It's never that pretty with Iowa football but all this program does is consistently win games.

Last week, the Hawkeyes went into Madison and dominated the Badgers from start to finish in a 37-0 rout.

Quarterback Mark Gronowski returned from a leg injury against Indiana and was efficient with the ball in his hands, completing over 70% of his passes.

He also looked healthy, which is critical given a lot of his game is predicated on using his legs to extend plays.

For Iowa to go on a run down the stretch and potentially contend in the Big Ten race, it'll need Gronowski to stay healthy and start to do a little bit more through the air.

On the other side of the ball, it's been back-to-back high-level performances for the Hawkeyes' defense.

Yes, Indiana won with a late touchdown pass, but Iowa gave the Hoosiers' offense issues for most of that game. That's an offense that's been putting up massive numbers against every other defense it's faced.

In the Wisconsin game, the Badgers could only muster 82 yards through the air and only converted 12 first downs for the game. The Hawkeyes also forced three turnovers in that one.

Now they return home and get to face a quarterback who will be making his first ever start in what should be a raucous environment. This Hawkeyes front will be looking to feast.


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Penn State vs Iowa NCAAF Week 8 Pick

Sometimes there's a bit of a bump from a team following a coaching change and an interim taking over.

I see nothing of that sort here, though. Like him or not, this Penn State locker room liked Franklin, and I don't see the Nittany Lions rallying around an interim staff and playing inspired football here.

This is a team that had National Championship aspirations all offseason, and now with three losses all of those goals are essentially not reachable.

Toss in the fact that Allar isn't playing and the Penn State offense should really struggle against an always stout Iowa defense.

Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes are still firmly in the mix in the Big Ten race and will have their full focus on adding another victory.

I know it's difficult for Iowa to win with big margin, but I expect it to win this one by at least two scores, covering this number in the process.

Pick: Iowa -3

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