2:30 p.m., TCF Bank Stadium • TV: Ch. 5 • Radio: 100.3-FM

Line: Iowa by 1½ • Series: Gophers lead 61-43-2

The opponent
After going 4-8 last year, the Hawkeyes have built momentum with impressive wins over Missouri State, Iowa State and Western Michigan.

Gophers offense vs. Hawkeyes defense

The strength of Iowa's 4-3 defense is the senior linebacker trio of Christian Kirksey, James Morris and Anthony Hitchens. The Gophers rank third in the Big Ten with 282.2 rushing yards per game, but Iowa has held three teams in a row below 75 yards rushing. QB Mitch Leidner will have less room to run, and the Gophers will need to prove their passing game is better than their season totals (33 completions, 421 yards) make it look. Advantage: Gophers

Hawkeyes offense vs. Gophers defense

Iowa QB Jake Rudock has five passing TDs and four rushing TDs, though he's more of a scrambler than a runner. Mark Weisman averaged 28 carries for 142 yards in Iowa's first three games. Stopping Iowa's running game will be a huge test, especially for the Gophers' two junior college transfers at linebacker, Damien Wilson and De'Vondre Campbell. Advantage: Hawkeyes

Iowa defensive back B.J. Lowery, center, runs from Western Michigan's Brian Fields, left, and Taylor Moton, right, while returning an interception 35-yards for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) ORG XMIT: MIN2013092720061422

Special teams

Iowa's Kevonte Martin-Manley leads the nation with a 31.8-yard punt return average, including two touchdowns in a span of 59 seconds last week. Iowa kicker Mike Meyer is 5-for-6 on field goal attempts. Gophers kicker Chris Hawthorne is 5-for-7 on field goals and 18-for-21 on extra points. Advantage: Hawkeyes

Intangibles

It's homecoming, and the Gophers will have their first sellout crowd since last September's win over Syracuse. This time, the challenge might be keeping players from getting over-amped and making mistakes that play right into Iowa's hands. Advantage: Gophers

Prediction

Leidner and Rudock each let his inexperience show with head-scratching moments in a low-scoring first half. Weisman powers Iowa into the lead, but the Gophers defense tightens, and Leidner pulls it out not with his legs but with his arm, throwing two fourth-quarter TD passes.

Gophers28

Iowa24

NUMBERS TO KNOW

20 Catches for Iowa receiving leader Kevonte Martin-Manley.

7 Catches for Gophers receiving leader Derrick Engel.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT …

B.J. Lowery - Iowa CB has three INTs over the past two games, returning two for TDs.