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After suffering its first loss of the season last week against Ohio State, Iowa will turn its attention to traveling to Washington on Friday (9 p.m. ET, Fox Networks).
The Huskies are a short favorite at home, but I have a special parlay that I'm targeting for this Big Ten affair.
Here are my Washington vs. Iowa picks and college football parlay for Friday, October 9.
Washington vs. Iowa Picks, Parlay
- Iowa Alt. Spread +6.5
- Washington Alt. TT Under 24.5
Washington vs. Iowa Odds
| Washington Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -110 | 41.5 -105o / -115u | -160 |
| Iowa Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -110 | 41.5 -105o / -115u | +130 |
Spread Pick: Iowa Alt. +6.5
Iowa will surely be looking to reverse its fortune after it was handed its first defeat of the season to top-five Ohio State.
Though Week 5’s scoreline conveys a Buckeye blowout on paper, Iowa actually hung around for most of the game until Jeremiah Smith absolutely took over in the second half, finishing with 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns.
The Hawkeyes get a far more manageable matchup in Week 6 versus a Washington team that's largely disappointed, despite the presence of Demond Williams Jr.
Washington has now lost consecutive matchups to Minnesota and USC following a 3-0 start to the season.
While this does appear to be a prime situational spot to back Washington on the surface, Iowa boasts the far superior defense and will undoubtedly be motivated to pull off the road upset in Seattle.
Prior to surrendering 31 points to the Buckeyes, Iowa had outscored its first four opponents by a +99 points differential, with the Hawkeyes' defense allowing just 32 points heading into Week 5.
In what I expect to be a very closely contested matchup with points likely coming at a premium, I favor backing Iowa to cover an alternate 6.5 spread.
Over/Under Pick: Washington Alt. Team Total Under 24.5
For the second leg in our SGP, I'll be backing that same narrative, which is for Iowa’s defense to present a major challenge for a struggling Husky offense.
Despite Williams ranking inside the top 20 in the entire country with 13,27 passing yards, a deeper dive reveals a Husky offense that's been atrocious when it comes to making key plays.
Washington’s offense ranks 107th in all of college football in EPA/Pass (Expected Points Added per Pass), and outside the top 120 in both third- and fourth-down success rates.
To add even further insult to injury, the Huskies now must face a Hawkeyes defensive unit that ranks seventh nationally in adjusted EPA per play on defense.
Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker boasts a remarkable mind for defensive schematics, evident through his now 15th season coaching for the Hawkeyes in that same capacity.
Parker’s defensive unit thrives when it comes to forcing opponents into predictable down-and-distance situations, which is precisely the biggest weakness for a Husky offense that consistently fails to capitalize in the game's biggest moments.
I feel confident backing the under on an alternate Washington 24.5 team total.
Washington vs. Iowa Same-Game Parlay
- Iowa Alt Spread +6.5 (-193)
- Washington Alt TT Under 24.5 (-200)
Parlay Odds: -135 (DraftKings)
