Week 3 presents the Iowa Hawkeyes with an interesting and unique opportunity when they host the UMass Minutemen in their final nonconference play as Big Ten action starts next week.
Yes, Iowa can notch another victory to move to 2-1, but they can also work things out in the passing game, which has been anemic through two games. The ground game is strong and should have a good day, but the passing attack needs to find its footing.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT this Saturday, September 13, from Kinnick Stadium and will air on the Big Ten Network, but before that, Pete Fiutak of College Football News dug into the matchup and offered a prediction on who can win this one and how.
Why UMass beats Iowa
Can UMass out-Iowa Iowa? They need to stay in the fight to have a chance. They need turnovers, penalties, blown assignments, and have to turn this game into a sloppy fight should they want to pull off the massive upset.
Just hang around, and Iowa will find a way to keep it interesting.
Even with a great new quarterback in Mark Gronowski, the offense is still among the worst in the nation in passing, there’s nothing happening down the field, and even the midrange throws aren’t clicking.
The Minutemen have to slow things down to a stop, they can’t turn it over after making way too many mistakes so far. – Fiutak, CFN
Why Iowa beats UMass
Iowa’s defense should be able to feast against an offense that lacks the firepower to take shots on them and hurt them multiple ways. After two dominant showings already, the Hawkeyes’ defense has a great opportunity to string together a third.
UMass doesn’t bring any sort of pressure behind the line.
The scoring pop isn’t there – the ground game didn’t go anywhere against Bryant – the secondary wasn’t even close against Temple, and the lines are about to be overwhelmed.
It’s not how Iowa works, but this would be the game to let Gronowski crank up the big plays down the field. If they try them against the UMass defense, they’ll work. – Fiutak, CFN
Who will win
There may not be a team in the country that bounces back from a loss better than the Iowa Hawkeyes. They do that this weekend and look sharp doing it. History has shown us that Kirk Ferentz rallies the troops. Expect nothing different here.
Iowa lost to Iowa State last year by a field goal, and the offense came back with its crispest passing game of the season in a 38-21 win over Troy.
In 2022, Iowa lost to Iowa State by a field goal, went all Iowa in a workmanlike 27-0 win over Nevada.
The Hawkeyes won’t annihilate UMass, but they’ll win easily and then get ready to play the field position battle against Rutgers. – Fiutak, CFN
Prediction
Prediction: Iowa 41, UMass 3
Fiutak doesn’t see this game staying close at all. He believes Iowa can out-muscle the Minutemen and win this one with a classic Iowa performance of stifling defense and domination in the trenches.
In all likelihood, that is exactly what this game is. It is a chance for Iowa to get its second win, fine-tune things, and stay as healthy as it can heading into Big Ten play on a short week with a road trip to Rutgers looming next Friday.
Takeaways
In a season of 12 games, some are forgettable. That is the category that this game falls into. Iowa is the better team and should be able to win handily without much pomp or flash.
Boring wins are okay, though. Forgettable wins are okay. In a 12-game season, wins are hard to get, especially at the Division I level. Take a breath, step back, and enjoy a victory Saturday night.
Kirk Ferentz will break the record for the most wins as a Big Ten head coach, and that is worth something.
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This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: College Football News predicts Iowa Hawkeyes vs. UMass in Week 3 matchup
Reporting by Riley Donald, Hawkeyes Wire / Seahawks Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
