Iowa @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2010 ) Iowa 24, Minnesota 27

THE STORY: Two long-time rivals headed in opposite directions meet with the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy on the line as Iowa visits Minnesota. Iowa, which is coming off a pair of impressive wins at home, looks for its third straight Big Ten victory and first away from Iowa City when it faces a Minnesota team that has dropped four in a row while being outscored 144-31 in its last three league losses. The Golden Gophers won last year at Iowa in the season finale, which was Minnesota's last conference victory.

TV: Big Ten Network. LINE: Iowa -14.5.

ABOUT IOWA (5-2, 2-1 Big Ten): The Hawkeyes scored 86 points in wins over Northwestern (41-31) and Indiana (45-24), marking the first time since the first two games of 2008 that Iowa has topped the 40-point mark in back-to-back games. Wide receiver Marvin McNutt became Iowa's all-time leader in career touchdown receptions with 24 as he caught a career-best three TD passes last week. McNutt shattered the mark of 21 held by former Hawkeye standouts Danan Hughes and Tim Dwight. Quarterback James Vandenberg continues his outstanding play - he is 13th in the nation in passing efficiency (156.7) and completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,741 yards, with 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Marcus Coker, who has four 100-yard games this season, has gained 717 yards and scored eight touchdowns.

ABOUT MINNESOTA (1-6, 0-3): First-year coach Jerry Kill, who has suffered several seizures this season, officially signed his seven-year contract this week. Marqueis Gray is one of only two Big Ten quarterbacks (Michigan's Denard Robinson) to lead his team in rushing and passing. Gray, who has rushed for 438 yards and two touchdowns, was a wide receiver last year for Minnesota, catching 42 passes for 587 yards and five TDs. Da'Jon McKnight is the Gophers' top receiver with 27 catches for 393 yards and a touchdown.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. The Floyd of Rosedale is a bronze pig traveling trophy that was established as the result of a bet between the governors of the two states in 1935. Minnesota leads the all-time series 60-42-2, but Iowa has won eight of the last 10 meetings.

2. Iowa has been outstanding in the red zone on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Hawkeyes lead the Big Ten and are tied for third in the nation at 96 percent, while on defense they rank ninth at 71 percent.

3. Minnesota will be the third straight winless conference opponent Iowa has played - Northwestern (0-2) and Indiana (0-3).

PREDICTION: Iowa 38 Minnesota 20 - The Hawkeyes win their first road game of the year thanks to a surging offense and a porous Minnesota defense.