Ohio State travels to Kinnick Stadium for a top-15 Big Ten matchup, and our Ohio State vs. Iowa anytime touchdown scorer predictions focus on Ja'Kobi Jackson as the best blend of touchdown role and current-season efficiency.
Here are best touchdown looks and college football picks for the Big Ten affair on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Best Ohio State vs Iowa touchdown picks
Ohio State touchdown pick: Ja'Kobi Jackson
This Ja'Kobi Jackson price is too short.
Through four FBS games, he has 31 carries for 206 yards, five touchdowns and 6.65 yards per rush, while producing 0.31 EPA per rush and a 51.6% success rate. That rushing profile ranks 51st nationally in EPA per rush.
Ohio State ranks first nationally in EPA per play and averages 45 points, so this does not require a perfect red-zone script. Ja'Kobi has been the more efficient touchdown back than Bo Jackson, and Iowa just allowed Illinois seven runs of at least 10 yards. The matchup gives him a legitimate finishing lane.
I also expect a good amount of ground game from Ohio State in the red zone facing such a dynamic defense.
Iowa touchdown pick: Kamari Moulton
Iowa needs a dependable way to keep the offense on schedule against a superior opponent. This is the best way to approach that.
In the current FBS sample, Kamari Moulton has 39 carries for 284 yards, 7.28 yards per rush, two touchdowns and 0.22 EPA per rush, good for 57th nationally in rushing EPA. His 48.7% success rate matters more than a gaudy touchdown total in this matchup: Iowa will need to finish drives, not simply hit one explosive play.
Hank Brown has generated 0.26 EPA per dropback, 35th nationally, but Moulton remains the offense's clearest way to create favorable down-and-distance situations. At Kinnick, that workload gives him the best path to Iowa's touchdown.
Long-shot touchdown pick: Reece Vander Zee
Reece Vander Zee is my longshot receiver, especially after the role he played at Michigan. In three FBS games, he has 10 catches on 13 targets for 130 yards, generating 0.91 EPA per target and a 69.2% success rate.
That output ranks 109th nationally in receiving EPA per target, and the efficiency is more encouraging than his modest target total. Vander Zee caught the game-winning 16-yard touchdown at Michigan after moving the chains earlier in the same drive. Hank Brown's 0.26 EPA per dropback ranks 35th nationally, giving Iowa a credible passing route if Ohio State crowds the box.
One or two efficient throws can put Vander Zee in position to repeat that high-leverage role.
Ohio State vs Iowa touchdown combo
- Ja'Kobi Jackson
- Kamari Moulton
This two-leg combo keeps the ticket tied to the clearest scoring roles on each sideline.
Ja'Kobi Jackson gives Ohio State a way to finish drives without relying on Jeremiah Smith's expensive touchdown market, while Kamari Moulton is Iowa's best bet to convert a possession into seven points.
The appeal is that both legs can cash in a competitive game, not only in a shootout. If Ohio State creates the expected field-position edge and Iowa avoids abandoning its ground game, both backs should remain involved near the goal line.
- TD picks: 6-7, -1.19 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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