Iowa vs Rutgers Odds, Prediction & Betting Preview | Big Ten Blackout Game 9/19/25 at SHI Stadium

Rutgers gets its annual Blackout game under the lights at SHI Stadium, and Iowa brings a top-tier defense and elite special teams to town. Kickoff is Friday, Sept. 19 at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX in Piscataway.

Game Details

Date & Time: September 19, 2025, 8:00 PM ET
Location: SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey
TV/Streaming: FOX, FOX Sports App
Odds: Iowa -2.5 (favorite), Rutgers +2.5 (underdog), Over/Under: 45.5
Moneyline: Iowa around -143, Rutgers +127
Odds From BetOnline

Team Performance and Trends

Iowa:
- Averaging 31.3 points scored and 10 points allowed per game; defense ranks among the top 15 nationally.
- Offense has shown improvement but lacks consistency; transfer QB Mark Gronowski has thrown for 306 yards, 3 TD, and 1 INT so far, but transition from FCS stardom has been bumpy.
- Running back Xavier Williams leads the team with 186 rushing yards; Jaziun Patterson adds 161 yards.
- Iowa’s defense is opportunistic, holding opponents to 10 points per game and ranking 14th nationally.
- Coming off a dominant 47-7 victory over UMass.
Rutgers:
- Averaging 46.3 points scored and 19.3 points allowed per game, offense ranks 11th in FBS.
- QB Athan Kaliakmanis has 4 TDs and no interceptions, and delivered 309 passing yards in the last outing.
- Running back Antwan Raymond (16 carries, 79 yards, 2 TDs last game) is emerging as a key ground threat.
- WR KJ Duff posted a strong stat line with six catches for 119 yards.
- Defense allows 5.6 yards per carry, which could be exploited by Iowa’s run attack.
- Started the season 3-0, beating Ohio, Miami (OH), and Norfolk State, with the most recent victory being 60-10.

Matchup

1) Rutgers’ explosive, turnover-free offense vs Iowa’s top-5 defense
Kaliakmanis has pushed it downfield and distributed without a giveaway yet, but this is a big step up: Iowa is top-5 in yards allowed, with a front that squeezes run lanes and a secondary that rarely busts coverages. Rutgers’ 46.3 PPG came against two MAC opponents and an FCS team; Friday is the calibration point. If RU protects a possibly shuffled right side (Needham/Giwa) and keeps the pocket clean, its tempo and vertical shots can still stress Iowa. If not, drives will stall and the clean-sheet turnover streak gets tested.

2) Iowa’s run game + QB legs vs Rutgers’ tackling
Iowa is most comfortable grinding: 214 rush ypg to ~122 pass ypg through three, and Gronowski has 3 rushing TDs already. Rutgers’ defense looked improved last week, but Schiano himself flagged inconsistent tackling and over-pursuit exactly the stuff Iowa punishes with stretch/boot and gap-scheme runs. Success rate on early downs will decide whether Iowa plays ahead of the chains (and the clock).

3) Hidden yards: special teams and field position
Between Wetjen’s returns, Drew Stevens’ leg, and Iowa’s punt coverage, the Hawkeyes tilt the field. Rutgers’ special teams have flashed too (blocked punt TD vs Ohio, chaos vs Norfolk State), but the margin here still leans Iowa. In a spread under a field goal, a short field or one explosive return can be the whole story.

4) Market read & total
Offshore Sportsbooks nudged the total up to 45.5 respecting Rutgers’ offense while holding Iowa -2.5 despite RU’s 3–0 start. That suggests skepticism that Rutgers can live in the 30s against this defense. If Strong is limited again, RU’s red-zone ceiling probably dips; conversely, Iowa’s pass game looked better vs UMass but hasn’t proven it against a P5 yet.

Game pick

Spread lean: Iowa -2.5 (-110 or better). The handicap is boring but plausible: Iowa’s defense + special teams set a lower-variance script; the Hawkeyes’ run game and QB legs feed time of possession; Schiano’s offense excellent so far faces its first top-5 defense with a short week and several key pieces in question. If Rutgers protects and stays turnover-free again, this gets dicey; but Iowa’s structure tends to force that one mistake. Edge Hawkeyes by a field goal.
Total lean: Under 45.5. Warm, dry weather helps scoring, but Iowa’s pace and RU’s step-up in competition pull towards the low 40s more often than not. The market’s move up from ~42.5 to 45.5 creates a little value on the Under if you missed the opener.

Prediction: Iowa 23, Rutgers 20 – Hawkeyes cover the short number; total sneaks Under.