Iowa vs Minnesota Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for Week 12 (Bronze Pig Returns to Gophers)

Iowa vs Minnesota Week 12 Game Info

2022 NCAA College Football Game
Iowa Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Huntington Bank Stadium — Minneapolis, MN
Coverage: FOX

Week 12 of the 2022 NCAA college football season includes a Big Ten rivalry game with first-place implications in the Big Ten West division, where there is a four-way tie at the top.

The Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Golden Gophers will battle for the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy, which is a bronze pig. More importantly, the winner of this game also gets to stay in the hunt for a Big Ten Championship Game against Michigan or Ohio State.

The Gophers won their third straight game last week over Northwestern, 31-3. Iowa also won their third straight game with a 24-10 win over Wisconsin, giving both teams 4-3 conference records heading into this weekend's pivotal clash.

Iowa vs Minnesota Odds & Spread

All NCAAF betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
Moneyline: IOWA: (+115) | MINN: (-138)
Spread: IOWA: +2.5 (-106) | MINN: -2.5 (-114)
Total: 32.5 — Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)

Minnesota enters this Big Ten battle as a slight home favorite on the spread (-2.5) and moneyline (-138). Check out the super-low total of 32.5 points -- the lowest ever in an FBS vs FBS NCAA matchup.

Iowa vs Minnesota Prediction & Pick

Iowa has won seven straight meetings with Minnesota to own the bronze pig, but will it finally change hands this year?

This matchup features the No. 2 and No. 3 scoring defenses in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes' offense is dismal, however, averaging fewer than 18 points per game. In last week's 24-10 win over Wisconsin, Iowa gained just 146 yards of total offense and barely cracked 2 yards per play.

The Gophers have failed in all three step-up games vs winning teams this season, losing to Purdue, Illinois and Penn State, all by double-digits. Minnesota is No. 14 in yards per game margin against a weaker schedule while Iowa is No. 82, and Minnesota is also No. 26 in yards per play margin compared to Iowa No. 57.

Both teams allow just 13-14 points per game against all opponents, and the Gophers have taken care of the football with just two turnovers in their last four games. Minnesota is also No. 1 in the nation in third-down offense, No. 2 in third-down defense, and No. 2 in time of possession edge.

Gophers RB Mohamed Ibrahim is top 5 in the country with 1,261 rushing yards and Minnesota averages 212 rushing yards per game vs FBS foes. The Gophers are 6-0 when they rush for at least 170 yards, but Iowa allows just 95 rushing yards per game and only Michigan and Illinois have rushed for more than 130 yards against the Hawkeyes.

Final Score Prediction: Minnesota: 23 | Iowa: 13

Iowa vs Minnesota Betting Trends

- Iowa is 7-0 straight up (SU) in their last 7 games vs Minnesota.
- Iowa is 6-0 ATS the last six games vs Minnesota.
- Iowa is 4-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last 5 games.
- The total has gone Under in 8 of Iowa's last 11 games.
- Minnesota is 10-3 SU and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games.
- Minnesota 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.

Iowa vs Minnesota Best Bet

All NCAAF betting lines, odds and prop bets are available on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Sixth-year Gophers QB Tanner Morgan did not play last week and is dealing with an upper-body injury. Backup redshirt freshman Athan Kaliakmanis is talented and played well in relief. He'll likely get the nod and lead Minnesota to a signature win at home, where the Gophers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games.

Bet: Minnesota -2.5 (-114)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.