Friday night Big Ten football has arrived, featuring an exciting clash between the Iowa Hawkeyes (2-1) and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-0). At first glance, these teams appear to be quite different.

Iowa is known for its defense-oriented approach, often turning games into low-scoring battles, whereas Rutgers has recently revitalized its offense with quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis at the helm.

In the following sections, we’ll analyze the matchup, identify Iowa vs. Rutgers picks, and guide you on how to watch and place bets for this Week 4 encounter.

Iowa vs. Rutgers Predictions for College Football Week 4, Friday, 9/19

Both teams are looking to kick off their conference schedule with a significant victory, and the national spotlight on FOX offers an ideal stage. Historically, Iowa boasts a 4-0 record against Rutgers, suggesting a favorable trend for the Hawkeyes, yet the current betting odds indicate a more balanced contest.

If you’ve kept up with Iowa football, you’re aware that the Hawkeyes and the concept of 'overs' are not typically associated with one another. For many years, Iowa has relied on its strong defense and slow-paced offense, resulting in some of the lowest scoring totals in college football.

However, this Week 4 matchup against Rutgers appears to be an unusual exception where betting on the Over 46 could be the most prudent choice when looking over Iowa vs. Rutgers predictions.

 

 

 

Iowa vs. Rutgers Best Bet: Over 46 (-110 at Bet365)

Transfer quarterback Mark Gronowski came to Iowa City with high expectations following a successful FCS career at South Dakota State. Although the transition has not been entirely smooth, he demonstrated glimpses of his potential in Week 3 against UMass, completing 16 of 24 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. 

While this performance was against a weaker opponent, it provided the kind of confidence boost the Hawkeyes needed as they prepare for Big Ten competition.

However, the more significant factor is Iowa’s running game. The combination of Nathan McNeil, Jaziun Patterson, and Xavier Williams has the potential to replicate what Ohio accomplished against Rutgers in Week 1, when the Bobcats rushed for 239 yards against the Scarlet Knights. 

In their first three games, Rutgers has already allowed 446 rushing yards at an average of 5.6 yards per carry. If Iowa can establish its running game early, Rutgers’ defense will find itself under pressure throughout the game.

The most notable change in this matchup compared to previous years is the performance of Rutgers’ quarterback. Kaliakmanis, an ex-Golden Gopher, seems to have significantly improved over the offseason, as demonstrated by his start to 2025.

He’s been effective, decisive, and confident in throwing deep — all contributing factors to Rutgers not having committed a single turnover this season.

Furthermore, considering that Rutgers has scored over 30 points in two of its first three games, this team no longer resembles the same grind-it-out squad that Iowa has dominated in past encounters. Competing at home under the lights in Piscataway, the Scarlet Knights should be able to create scoring chances, even against a strong defense.

Indeed, Iowa has been the dominant force in this rivalry, conceding only 17 total points in their last three clashes. However, this Rutgers offense appears different.

The Scarlet Knights now possess a quarterback who can effectively challenge Iowa's defense vertically, and while the Hawkeyes' defense is formidable, they’ve managed to force only one turnover in three games. If Rutgers can maintain possession, this matchup could deviate from the usual low-scoring pattern.

This matchup appears to be a competitive contest where both teams achieve more offensive success than anticipated. Rutgers will rely on Kaliakmanis to exploit Iowa’s secondary, while the Hawkeyes’ rushing attack is likely to dominate significant portions of the game clock. Betting on the Over 46 is advisable in our Iowa vs. Rutgers predictions, even if it feels risky in a game involving Iowa.

 

 

 

How To Watch Iowa vs. Rutgers College Football Week 4

  • Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
  • Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Location: SHI Stadium – Piscataway, NJ
  • TV Broadcast: FOX

Iowa vs. Rutgers Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines

According to our previously stated Iowa vs. Rutgers predictions, we present the most recent Iowa vs. Rutgers odds for the game from Bet365 Sportsbook:

  • Money Line (ML): Hawkeyes -130 | Scarlet Knights +110
  • Spread: Hawkeyes -2.5 (-115) | Scarlet Knights +2.5 (-105)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 46 (O: -110 | U: -110)

 

 

 

Iowa vs. Rutgers Injury Report & Latest News

Iowa Injury Report

  • X. Williams (RB) – Out, Arm
  • B. George (OG) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • R. Vander Zee (WR) – Questionable, Foot
  • K. Moulton (RB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • J. Buie (WR) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • A. Ostrenga (TE) – Out, Undisclosed

Rutgers Injury Report

  • C. Marshall (CB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • M. Clayton (CB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • B. Kyle (DL) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • J. Houston (WR) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • S. Murray (CB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • N. Shaw (CB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • I. Strong (WR) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • N. Oliveira (OG) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • D. Fuse (CB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • D. Chin (OG) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • D. Blue-Eli (DL) – Out, Undisclosed
  • R. Langsdale (OG) – Out, Undisclosed
  • S. Brown V (RB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • D. Gilley (CB) – Out, Undisclosed
  • F. Toure (WR) – Out, Knee

 

 

 

How To Bet On Iowa vs. Rutgers At Bet365 Sportsbook & Claim Your $1,000 Bonus

Bet365 is regarded as one of the premier destinations for wagering on Iowa vs. Rutgers picks. New users have the opportunity to receive a bonus of up to $1,000 by completing these straightforward steps:

  1. Register for a new Bet365 Sportsbook account here; no Bet365 promo code is required.
  2. Make an initial deposit of up to $1,000.
  3. Place a real-money wager of up to $1,000 on any market for your first bet, including our Iowa vs. Rutgers predictions, and if it loses, you will receive your stake back in bonus bets!

Alternatively, you can choose a straightforward “Bet $5, Get $200” bonus, which will provide you with $200 in bonus bets regardless of the outcome after placing your first wager of $5 or more. So why delay? Click this link to claim your offer today.