The Floyd of Rosedale will be on the line Saturday afternoon when Iowa hosts Minnesota at Kinnick Stadium.
The Hawkeyes have won nine of the last ten in this rivalry, with their only loss coming two years ago inside Kinnick Stadium on the infamous Cooper DeJean fair catch call. Revenge will be on the mind of the Hawkeyes as they look to start a new home winning streak in this series on Saturday.
Both teams enter this game at 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten conference. The winner could find themselves as a dark horse contender to make the Big Ten title game, if one of Indiana or Ohio State slips up down the line. The loser will face some tough questions after the game and spend the next year without Floyd.
Who does the team at Hawkeyes Wire have winning this year’s matchup between these two hated rivals?
Iowa vs. Minnesota predictions
Scout Springgate: Iowa 24, Minnesota 17. Although Minnesota brings in a proficient run game, Iowa’s rushing defense will be able to limit the damage on the ground. However, the Golden Gophers will try to exploit the secondary of the Hawkeyes, similar to how the Scarlet Knights did in September.
If Iowa can remain consistent with its mix of run and pass plays to sustain positive drives, it should be able to outpace Minnesota.
Given the history between the two programs, it will be a hard-fought, low-scoring affair. Kirk Ferentz’s wisdom prevails once again for the Floyd of Rosedale.
Riley Donald: Iowa 27, Minnesota 17. This matchup is always physical. It’s who these two teams are.
The key matchups to watch in this game come down to two things. The first one is the Iowa offensive line against the Minnesota defensive line. Iowa is running the ball incredibly well. They want to run the ball, eat clock, and maintain possession. This is their advantage. Minnesota isn’t defending the run all that well, but they make up for it in the pass rush. If Minnesota forces Iowa to throw the ball, the scale tilts to the Gophers.
The other matchup is Drake Lindsey against the Iowa secondary and pass rush. Iowa has a stout run defense, and Darius Taylor, the Minnesota running back, may get some after Iowa showed some cracks against Penn State, but the passing game is what Minnesota has found success in this year.
Like many of Iowa’s rivalary games, this one comes down to who makes the second-half turnover. Iowa is forcing turnovers and playing opportunistic defense, which leads to them getting a timely turnover to ice this game.
Josh Helmer: Iowa 20, Minnesota 17. It definitely looks like a battle of two pretty evenly matched teams. In a game where both defenses are good and both offenses are still figuring things out, give the rivalry edge to Iowa at home with the Hawkeyes’ defense, its home crowd and a run game fueled by Kamari Moulton and Mark Gronowski as the difference. Floyd stays home.
Zach Hiney: Iowa 24, Minnesota 13. The battle for Floyd always seems to be close between these two rivals every year. Both teams want to wear you down on the ground, play fundamental football, and lull you into a turnover or two to seal the game.
Iowa has rode that formula to some success this year, with wins over Penn State and Wisconsin, and a near victory over Indiana. The Hawkeyes are an elite rushing offense and a fantastic rushing defense. The Golden Gophers have been a great rushing defense, but are near the bottom of the pack in rushing offense. That’s a matchup advantage for the Hawkeyes.
Throw in the fact that this game is at Kinnick Stadium, Minnesota is 0-2 on the road, and they’re starting a freshman quarterback, I think this bodes well for Iowa. The Hawkeyes will start fast and then grind down the Minnesota defense on the ground. Iowa’s defense will force a turnover or two out of freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey and keep Floyd home for the tenth time in the last 11 years.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football vs. Minnesota: Who wins? Final score predictions
Reporting by Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
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