Iowa vs. North Texas Prediction, Game Preview

The unbeaten Iowa Hawkeyes host the winless North Texas Mean Green Saturday afternoon. We analyze the teams below in the Iowa vs. North Texas prediction and game preview.

Iowa vs. North Texas Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, September 26
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Network: ESPNU

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Why You Need To Care

Former Iowa State head coach—and Hawkeye assistant—Dan McCarney is making his return to Kinnick Stadium this weekend. He’s now the head man at North Texas, which went 4-8 a year ago and has dropped its first two games to SMU and Rice. McCarney will square off with a familiar foe, Kirk Ferentz, whose Hawkeyes have opened with three workmanlike victories. Iowa is receiving Top 25 votes, but true respect won’t be possible until the Big Ten schedule begins next week at Wisconsin.

Why North Texas Will Win

The Hawkeyes are taking anyone behind the woodshed, so the Mean Green is liable to hang around long enough to make this interesting in the second half. North Texas’ offense showed a pulse against Rice last week, getting ground production from RB Antoinne Jimmerson and a monster game from WR Carlos Harris.

Why Iowa Will Win

The Hawkeyes will maul the Mean Green at the point of attack. Iowa is the much better team in the trenches, where C Austin Blythe and RG Jordan Walsh conduct business. Walsh has been a run blocking beast, a key reason why the backs are averaging almost five yards a carry. On the flip side, Iowa allows less than two yards a carry, as DE Nate Meier emerges into a force up front.

Player Who Matters

Can North Texas QB Andrew McNulty move the ball through the air on the Hawkeyes? Don’t bank on it. Iowa houses a dynamite veteran secondary, headlined by corners Desmond King and Greg Mabin. And as explosive as Harris was last week, his yards after the catch will be limited this Saturday.

What’s Going To Happen?

Iowa will physically toss around North Texas on both sides of the ball. The Mean Green will be stuck in neutral, while Hawkeye QB C.J. Beathard deftly spreads the ball around to RB Jordan Canzeri and receivers Tevaun Smith and Matt VandeBerg. Iowa will be in the clear early in the third quarter.