There is something romantic and comforting about Kirk Ferentz’s Iowa Hawkeyes.
In an era of chaos brought on by the transfer portal, NIL money and realignment, the mission at Iowa remains the same as it ever was. The Hawkeyes want to win, but they want to do it the right way — or at least the right way in Ferentz’s eyes.
Ferentz’s entire 28-year tenure in Iowa City has been defined by a few non-negotiables: The Hawkeyes will take care of the ball, they’ll play with discipline and Phil Parker’s defense will make you earn every blade of grass that you gain.
This approach has always made Iowa a high-floor team. The Hawkeyes almost never beat themselves.
But it can, at times, limit their ceiling. Ferentz’s critics say he keeps the handbrake on and often puts his philosophy above anything else.
This year, it may just be working.
Iowa is 4-0, ranked No. 14 in the country, and is hosting Ohio State on “College GameDay” in Week 5.
The Hawkeyes already have a couple of signature wins against Iowa State and Michigan under their belt, and they beat Northern Iowa and NIU by a combined score of 95-0.
But none of that seems to be impressing the betting market. Playing at home in front of their famously boisterous crowd at Kinnick Stadium, the Hawkeyes are getting 14 points against the Buckeyes.
That seems like a hefty price to pay.
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Not only does it seem disrespectful to the talent on Iowa’s roster — especially on defense — but also to Ferentz’s acumen. He may be stubborn in his approach, but Ferentz is an expert at getting games on his terms. It’s really difficult to run away from the Hawkeyes, especially on their deck.
Iowa’s defense, which ranks 10th in SP+, is built to handle what Jeremiah Smith and the Buckeyes throw at them Saturday.
The Play: Iowa +14 (-108, DraftKings)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
