New players can score up to $1,500 in bonus using the BetMGM bonus code SFAPLAY this weekend. Simply register with the code, deposit $10+, and place a bet on any college football game, including the Battle of the Hawkeye State between Iowa and Iowa State. BetMGM will refund your stake up to $1,500 if your wager loses.

Let's go over how you can redeem the BetMGM promo code and preview some of the best Week 2 college football games to bet on, including the Iowa vs. Iowa State rivalry game.

CFB 2025 Week 2 • 12:00 PM ET • SEPTEMBER 6, 2025
Iowa @ Iowa State

SPREAD
Iowa State -3.5
TOTAL
O/U 41.5

• 🛡️ Defensive advantage: Both units are capable, but Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has the longer track record of defensive success (ranked No. 11 in scoring in 2024).
• ⚡ X-factor: Iowa State junior QB Rocco Becht is off to a strong start. He completed 19-of-20 passes against South Dakota last week.
• ⚠️ Note: Iowa State defeated Iowa on the road, 20-19, in last year's meeting.

The famed “Cy-Hawk” rivalry between the Iowa State Cyclones and Iowa Hawkeyes kicks off Saturday at noon in Ames. The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series 47-24, but Iowa State has won two of the last three matchups. Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht led a fourth-quarter comeback win in last year's 20-19 finish, but now he'll try to lead the team's first win over Iowa at Ames since 2011.

The Cyclones come in ranked No. 16 with a 2-0 record after defeating Kansas State in a tight one (24-21) in Week 0 before smashing South Dakota 55-7 last week. The Hawkeyes got 2025 started with a 34-7 win over Albany last week, but Iowa State and head coach Matt Campbell will provide a much stiffer challenge. Iowa poured in 310 rushing yards last week. However, new quarterback Mark Gronowski, a two-time FCS champion, only completed 8-of-15 passes for 44 yards against Albany. The Hawkeyes haven't passed for over 2,000 yards in a season since 2021.

  • Iowa's current season win total odds: Over 6.5 (-155), Under 6.5 (+120)
  • Iowa State's current season win total odds: Over 8.5 (+100), Under 8.5 (-130)

Expect a gritty game, as this rivalry usually is. The line movement has been favorable to Iowa State, moving the spread from 3 points to 3.5 points at BetMGM. The Cyclones have home-field advantage and a veteran quarterback in Becht, who has started the season hot and played well against the Hawkeyes last year.

🎯 SFA Betting Prediction: We don't expect either team to score a lot in this one, and five of the previous six meetings finished under 39.5 points. So, we'll take the under of 41.5 points as the best pick.

Iowa vs. Iowa State odds at BetMGM

Captured: September 5, 2025 (odds accurate at time of writing)

Other Saturday College Football Games to Bet on at BetMGM

Here are some other college football games on Saturday to circle and bet on at BetMGM, leading up to the big night game in Norman between Michigan and Oklahoma.

  • 12:00 pm ET | No. 11 Illinois vs. Duke (+3, O/U 49.5)
  • 12:00 pm ET | Baylor vs. No. 17 SMU (-2.5, O/U 64.5)
  • 3:30 pm ET | Fresno State vs. Oregon State (-3, O/U 45.5)
  • 7:00 pm ET | North Carolina vs. Charlotte (+13.5, O/U 49.5)
  • 7:30 pm ET | No. 15 Michigan vs. No. 18 Oklahoma (-5.5, O/U 45.5)