Iowa opens Cy-Hawk week as 3.5-point favorite

Sep 11, 2021; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Zach VanValkenburg (97) tackles Iowa State Cyclones running back Breece Hall (28) at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa has opened as a 3.5-point favorite for next Saturday’s Cy-Hawk clash in Iowa City, according to the line released by FanDuel on Sunday.

That number is down from the preseason line that pegged the Hawkeyes as 6.5-point favorites over the Cyclones. Iowa has won each of the last six meetings between the two programs.

The game total has opened at 41.5 points.

Iowa State rolled in its season opener on Saturday, posting a 42-10 win over FCS Southeast Missouri State. Meanwhile, Iowa struggled with FCS powerhouse South Dakota State in a 7-3 win in which the Hawkeye defense forced a pair of safeties to outscore their struggling offense.

Iowa won last year’s meeting between the two programs 27-17 in Ames.

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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