It’s still very early in the season, and the Boilermakers still have a lot to prove. With some minor injuries on both sides of the ball, we shall see if the Iowa Hawkeyes can advance to a 7-0 record.
For the Hawkeyes, Moss (DB) is dealing with a left knee injury, and it is unknown when he will return to the lineup. Hurkett (DL) is sidelined with a leg injury, and it is unknown how long he will be debilitated.
On the other side of things, Purdue has a longer list of injuries. Trice (CB) is dealing with a knee injury, and he will not return for the remainder of the 2021 season. Cross (RB) is tending to a personal issue, and he will not be in Saturday’s lineup against Iowa.
Yaseen (WR) is nursing an undisclosed injury, and he will not return for the remainder of the 2021 season. Another key player, Rice, is sidelined with a foot injury, and he will miss the remainder of the 2021 season.
Boilermakers, Hawkeyes In a Tough Battle
The Boilermakers have won three of their last four against the Hawkeyes after Iowa had won four straight in the series. Each of the last four meetings was decided by single digits after Iowa won four straight by double digits.
Purdue has scored exactly 13 points in each of its last three games, going 1-2, averaging 57.3 rush yards. The Boilermakers have averaged 39.5 points in their first two games, winning both, averaging 137.5 rush yards.
Aidan O’Connell threw for 371 yards last week against Minnesota after combining for 372 pass yards in his first three games of the season. His 52 attempts in the game were the most by a Boilermaker since Elijah Sindelar on September 7, 2019.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have their highest ranking in the AP Poll since being ranked No. 1 in the 1985 season. This comes after the Hawkeyes beat No. 4 Penn State, 23-20, their first win over a top-5 AP opponent since beating No. 3 Ohio State, 55-24, on November 4, 2017.
From A Betting Perspective
The Boilermakers are 0-7 ATS in their last seven conference games. With all the stats and lack of injuries, a well-balanced Hawkeyes team should soar to an easy win. The question is will the Hawkeyes cover the point spread, or will the sharps get the money by moving the opening number of -14.5 down to -11.5.
The betting trends for Purdue seem to be the under while everything else points to Iowa Hawkeyes covering a number that opened up high and got beat down. The under trends should continue for a banged-up Purdue team that will give it their all against a #2 ranked Hawkeyes team looking to remain undefeated.
The Under is 6-0 in Boilermakers’ last six games overall. The Under is 4-0 in the Boilermakers’ last four games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game, and also 4-0 in the team’s last four games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game. The Under is 5-0 in the Boilermakers’ last five games in October.
Final Thought
The trend which is usually your friend points to this matchup as being a very low scoring game, and even though the riddled-up Boilermakers will be without some key players, look for this game to stay under the total of 43, as Purdue’s defense will step up and try to hand the Hawkeyes their first loss.
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