Massachusetts (UMASS) vs. Iowa Picks and Prediction for Saturday, September 13, 2025
The early-season non-conference schedule continues on Saturday, and this Massachusetts Minutemen (0-2) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (1-1) showdown should be a fun one. We’ve got you covered with our UMASS vs. Iowa prediction. Kickoff is set for 7:30 ET from Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, IA. Don’t get penalized! Increase your bankroll with our NCAAF Betting Picks!
Minutemen are 0-2 in 2025
The UMASS Minutemen are trying desperately to turn their football program around, and they’re once again ushering in a new era. This time, it’ll be Coach Joe Harasymiak taking a turn, it’s his first head coaching gig since he went 20-15 (15-9 CONF) with Maine from 2016-2018. So far, things haven’t worked out well for UMASS, as they’re 0-2 out of the gate. They were hammered 42-10 by Temple in the opener, before dropping a 27-26 home contest against FCS Bryant in week 2.
Starting quarterback Brandon Rose (leg) will not play on Saturday, meaning Grant Jordan will likely take the reins of the offense. He went 13/22 for 205 yards in relief against Bryant last weekend, adding an interception. Out wide, Jacquon Gibson has emerged as the top receiver, gaining 221 yards on 19 catches. Rocko Griffin has handled a bulk of the rushing workload, adding 114 yards and a touchdown on 20 totes (5.7 YPC).
- UMASS is a member of the MAC now, but the odds are against them in their debut year, as the school is priced at +12000 to win the conference title.
- Offensively, the Minutemen are scoring 10.0 points per game (115th), while averaging 302.0 yards per week (96th).
- On the defensive side, UMASS is 120th this season, allowing 42.0 points per game. In terms of yardage, they’re 121st, conceding 467.0 yards per contest.
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Hawkeyes Drop the CyHawk Rivalry
The Iowa Hawkeyes are always on the cusp of making waves in the Big Ten thanks to their excellent defensive and special teams fundamentals. So far in 2025, Iowa is out to a 1-1 start. They cruised past UAlbany (34-7) in the opener, but dropped a road game against #16 Iowa State (16-13) in the famous CyHawk rivalry. The Hawkeyes did manage to cover the +3.5-point spread on the road in Ames, as they moved to 1-1 ATS in 2025.
QB Mark Gronowski leads the offense this season, and he comes over from South Dakota State after amassing 10,330 yards over four years. This success hasn’t translated to the power-four ranks, as the signal caller only has 127 yards and a 1/1 TD/INT ratio in 2025. WR Jacob Gill is the leading receiver with six catches and 65 yards. RB Xavier Williams has 148 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
- The Hawkeyes have an updated win total of just 6.5 (+140/-165), and they’re priced at +7500 to win the Big Ten title.
- Iowa’s offense has been underwhelming this season, ranking 107th in scoring (13.0 PPG), while putting up 214.0 yards per game (127th) against FBS-level opposition.
- Defensively, the Hawkeyes are 36th in the country this year, conceding 16.0 points per game. They’re allowing 238.0 yards per contest, which is 18th.
UMASS vs. Iowa Pick
Spread Pick for UMASS vs. Iowa
- Iowa Hawkeyes -34.5 (-115) (5 units)
This is a very interesting game from a sports betting perspective, as we have a movable object (UMASS’ defense) squaring off against a stoppable force (Iowa’s offense). I typically wouldn’t be looking to lay this many points with a questionable Iowa offense, but the sheer disparity in roster talent compared with how bad UMASS’ defense has been this year, I have to back Iowa.
If the Hawkeyes are going to “get right” before conference play starts, then they’re going to need to lay it on the visiting Minutemen. This is the definition of a tune-up game, and Iowa’s offense should excel against a UMASS defense that’s allowing 42.0 points per game and 467.0 yards per game against FBS-level competition. We may even see a defensive or special teams touchdown to help Iowa here, as the D will be taking on a backup quarterback in Grant Jordan. Give me Iowa to steamroll the visitors in this one.
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Rob Vincilleti | +1,502.00 |
| 2 |  Pro Sports Picks | +1,421.00 |
| 3 |  Brick Haus Sports | +634.00 |
| 4 |  David Delano | +492.00 |
| 5 |  Michael Briggs | +355.00 |
Over/Under Pick for UMASS vs. Iowa
- Under 43.5 (-105) (5 units)
I think we can thread the needle here and take Iowa to cover, but also have the under 43.5 points cash. This matchup is primed for a 38-0 or 38-3 type of game. Picking it back up with Iowa’s offense, they love running the ball. In two games, they have a rush play percentage of 69.7% with 92 rushing attempts compared to 40 drop backs in the passing game. They should get a few big-time runs to score enough to cover, but I also think they’ll just lean on the run game and chew up plenty of clock.
As for UMASS, I won’t be surprised if they’re blanked in this game. Iowa’s defense has been elite this year, allowing only 12.5 points per game. At home against an inferior opponent with a backup quarterback, and I’m willing to wager that they hold UMASS to three or fewer points. I’m taking the under.
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