Welcome back, troops!
So far, the Weather Gods have offered up a mixed bag this season. Week 1 saw intense heat. Week 2 was pristine. Week 3? Well, bring rain gear. You may need it in the morning, as rain chances bounce back and forth between 40 and 60 percent. There may, however, be a window during the day, right as the game starts, where rain chances drop into the 10-20 percent range, and that lasts through the game. Temperatures look good throughout the day, with a high of 80. Not bad on the temperature at all. Just that pesky rain…
As for this game? Well, this isn’t your older brother’s UNI. A perennial FCS playoff participant and a runner-up in the 2005 national title game, it’s been a tough road for the Panthers in the NIL era. There’s just no juice there post-Mark Farley. This is a program that, at least in my lifetime, had guys like Kurt Warner, Brad Meester, Bryce Paup, and Dedric Ward all in the NFL. Now I couldn’t tell you anything about the program.
It all shows in the line for Saturday. Iowa is a 38.5-point favorite on FanDuel. UNI is just not that good anymore and Iowa might cover that and the over/under (48.5) on their own. Iowa should absolutely roll in this game, even if a couple of players sit this out to get ready for the big test in Ann Arbor on September 26. Get in, beat them up right away, get reps for everyone that needs them, get out of there healthy. Iowa 45, Panthers 0. Get ready for the Big House and the looming Michigan-Ohio State-Washington stretch.
Date: Saturday, September 19
Time: 3:00 pm CT
Matchup: Northern Iowa Panthers (1-1, 0-0) at Iowa Hawkeyes (2-0, 0-0)
Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
TV: FS1
Updated Weather Forecast: High around 80, chance of rain throughout the day
Updated FanDuel Line: Iowa -38.5, O/U 48.5
