Free College Football Picks Today: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Iowa Hawkeyes 11/19/22

Two of the nation’s top scoring defenses are set to square off at Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday, as the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-3, 4-3 Big 10) play host to the University of Iowa Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-3 Big 10). The Golden Gophers are 2.5-point favorites, and the total is 32.5.

Iowa is coming off a convincing 24-10 win over Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium last Saturday, their third straight victory. Spencer Petras threw for 94 yards. Kaleb Johnson ran 22 times for 57 yards and a touchdown. Sam LaPorta caught five passes for 48 yards.

Minnesota won for the third straight game last Saturday, beating Northwestern 31-3 at Huntington Bank Stadium. Athan Kaliakmanis was 7 of 13 for 64 yards. Mohamed Ibrahim carried 36 times for 178 yards and three touchdowns. Daniel Jackson had three receptions for 34 yards.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Hawkeyes won the only meeting between the teams last season, a 27-22 victory in November, their fifth straight win against Minnesota. Alex Padilla threw two touchdowns for Iowa.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Hawkeyes are averaging 17.9 points per game for the season, 124th in FBS, and they are facing a Golden Gophers defense that has surrendered 13.1 PPG (4th). Meanwhile, Minnesota has scored 30.6 points a game this season, 49th in the country, and Iowa is allowing 13.9 PPG (5th).

The Hawkeyes rank as one of the country’s worst teams in both passing (152.7, 123rd) and rushing (98.4, 119th) yards per game. They can expect a tough test through the air and on the ground, as the Golden Gophers are eighth in the country in passing yards allowed per game (167.2) and 13th against the run (106.8).

Minnesota has been one of the country’s top rushing teams, averaging 221.2 yards per game (14th), while ranking 118th in passing yards (182.5). Iowa’s defense has been equally impressive on the ground, as the Hawkeyes are 8th in the country in rushing yards allowed per game (88.6). Against the pass, the Hawkeyes are 10th (172.1).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through 10 games, Spencer Petras has thrown for five touchdowns (5 INT) and 149.5 yards per game to lead Iowa in passing. In four away games this season, he has two TDs (3 INT) and an average of 139.8 yards passing. Kaleb Johnson leads the team in rushing with an average of 61.0 yards a game over 10 games. He has five touchdowns on the ground and one through the air.

Sam LaPorta is the Hawkeyes’ leading receiver with 50.6 yards a game and one TD. Tanner Morgan has seven passing touchdowns (5 INT) with 165.5 yards per game through eight games to lead Minnesota. In five home games this season, he has thrown for four TDs (4 INT) and an average of 199.4 yards.

Mohamed Ibrahim has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 140.1 yards a game through nine games. He has 18 touchdowns. Brevyn Spann-Ford has been the primary target in the Golden Gophers’ passing game. He has two touchdowns and a 37.4 yard per game average through 10 appearances.