IOWA CITY, Iowa – For the first time since 2018, the annual showdown between Iowa and Iowa State will be played at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday.

The game wasn’t played in 2020 due to the Covid-19 global pandemic.

Iowa has won the last six games in the series and is favored by three points.

Both teams are 1-0, but they achieved that record under different circumstances as Iowa edged South Dakota State 7-3 last Saturday while Iowa State pounded Southeast Missouri State 42-10 last Saturday.

It was hard finding five intriguing matchups for this week, especially in the Big Ten where most of the teams are playing opponents they should easily defeat.

So, if you’re wondering why Missouri vs. Kansas State made the list, that’s why. It was slim pickings.

Rob Howe currently has the lead amongst the three Hawk Fanatic pickers after compiling a 4-1 record in week 1.

Pat Harty’s picks

Iowa 15, Iowa State 8: Iowa will score its points and on three safeties and three field goals, while Iowa State will score its points on two field goals and a safety.

Illinois 27, Virginia 20: Just pretend it’s basketball season and this matchup looks a little better.

Alabama 35, Texas 17: Nick Saban stops being mean and grumpy for just a few seconds after the game game as he tries to cheer up Steve Sarkasian by telling him that he could always rejoin his coaching staff after Sarkasian fails to get the job done at Texas.

Florida 24, Kentucky 23: In last Saturday’s win over Utah, Florida’s starting quarterback, Anthony Richardson, performed a spectacular leaping 360-degree spin move to avoid being tackled in the pocket and then rolled to his right and threw a touchdown pass to a wide open receiver in the end zone.  There is something to be said for having a dual-threat quarterback.

Pittsburgh 31, Tennessee 24: Former USC quarterback Kedon Slovis, who shredded the Iowa defense in the 2019 Holiday Bowl before being injured, is now the starting quarterback at Pittsburgh, while former Pittsburgh All-America receiver Jordan Addison, who won the Biletnikoff Award last season, now plays for USC.

To sort of borrow a line from Beavis and Butthead, the transfer portal rules!

Last week: 3-2

Dallas Jones’s picks

Last week: 3-2

Iowa 24, Iowa State 21: The Cyclones have not beaten the Hawks since the Obama administration and that is not changing Saturday.

Illinois 21, Virginia 24: Illinois has a nack for giving games away and I don’t trust them to change this early in the season.

Alabama 42, Texas 14: Men amongst boys.

Florida 31, Kentucky 20: As John Calipari said, Kentucky is a basketball school.

Pittsburgh 35, Tennessee 31: Go points!

Rob Howe’s picks

Last week: 4-1

Iowa 9, Iowa State 6:  What if I told you Iowa would win via three safeties and a field goal?

Virginia 20, Illinois 17:  This much orange in one game would burn my retinas.

Alabama 48, Texas 21: The Tide is more than willing to mess with Texas…and mess it up.

Florida 24, Kentucky 21:  I’ve never eaten gator. Does it taste like chicken?

Tennessee 45, Pittsburgh 42:  West Virginia and Tennessee to open Pitt’s season. Next week the Panthers will face the Beverly Hillbillies.