It’s been 242 days since Iowa walked off the field at the Music City Bowl, disappointed after a 27-24 loss to Missouri ended their season.
But now, almost eight months removed from that loss, the Hawkeyes and the fanbase are one sleep away from the start of a new season. In just about one day from now, the Hawkeyes will swarm out to a sold-out Kinnick Stadium and kick off the 2025 season against FCS Albany.
The time for preseason predictions and projections is over. Iowa football is back, playing against a real opponent on Saturday. So it’s time to give my first game prediction of this new season. How do I think the Hawks will fare against Albany in Week 1? Do they cover the spread? Who do I think will play well? Let’s jump into my official score prediction for Iowa vs Albany.
Iowa vs. Albany score predictions
Zach Hiney: On paper, this game has the makings of a dominant Iowa victory. The Great Danes of Albany went 4-8 in the FCS last season and are replacing a ton of production with unproven freshmen and transfers. But they’re heading into Kinnick as big underdogs, which makes them dangerous. Albany has nothing to lose and everything to gain. The pressure is on Iowa.
Despite that, Iowa should take care of business in this game. The Hawkeyes have a huge advantage in the trenches. The offensive and defensive lines should be able to feast against inexperienced Albany linemen. Even if the passing offense takes time to get into a rhythm under Mark Gronowski, Iowa should have no problem pounding the rock on Saturday.
As long as the Hawkeyes take care of the football, the offense shouldn’t have much trouble putting points on the board. The defense is breaking in new linebackers and members in the secondary, which could be a cause for concern. Don’t be surprised if Albany breaks a big play early. Despite that, I expect the defense to settle in and mostly contain the Great Danes. If they can stop running back Jojo Uga, it’ll be a good day for the Hawkeye defense.
Throw in a big special teams advantage, and Iowa should be able to roll on Saturday. The only way this game gets dicey is if the Hawkeyes are sloppy and careless with the football, leading to multiple turnovers. I don’t think that’s going to happen. Iowa is the better team on all three phases, and with a sold-out Kinnick ready to help them out, the Hawks should have this one put away before the fourth quarter.
Iowa 45, Albany 6. The Hawkeyes cover the spread.
Riley Donald: Iowa 45, Albany 3. Iowa comes out looking to strike on offense. Look for Gronowski’s legs to be in play early as they ease his arm into the action. The Hawkeyes should dominate the trenches on both sides and wear down the Great Danes. Iowa comfortably handles its opener and looks towards an objectively massive Cy-Hawk in Week 2.
Scout Springgate: Iowa 45, Albany 13. The Hawkeyes come out blazing behind the play of new quarterback Mark Gronowski, who will showcase the drastically improved offensive capabilities for this season under second-year offensive coordinator Tim Lester. Albany will be able to put up their scoring mainly in “garbage time” with the Hawkeyes’ reserves in action near the end of the game.
Josh Helmer: Iowa 41, Albany 10. The Hawkeyes showcase a bit of what they’ve added in new quarterback Mark Gronowski and in transfer receiver Sam Phillips. Iowa’s defense forces multiple takeaways as fresh faces Karson Sharar and Koen Entringer announce their full-time arrivals.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football vs. Albany: Who wins? Final score predictions
Reporting by Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
