Kent State at Iowa Week 3 College Football Matchup Kent State at Iowa Matchup - Week 3
Sat, Sep 18 2021 · Week 3 · 🏟 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA · Turf · 70,585 cap
Kent State✈ 531 mi-1 hr TZ
7 30
Final
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Kent State
18
Iowa
38
P&R Line Iowa -20.5
P&R Total O/U 55.5
Confidence 86 High
Vegas Iowa -22 · O/U 55.5
Matchup Prediction
Iowa has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Iowa entering this game.
Momentum Control
71.6%
Iowa wins
Solid
Game Control
76%
Iowa wins
Strong
Vegas Spread
Iowa -22
O/U 55.5
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → Kent State · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
Kent State 2021 Schedule
Kent State's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Kent State at Texas A&M+29.5L10–4167.0L10–41UN
Sat 9/11Kent State vs VMI-19.0W60–1073.0W60–10UY
Sat 9/18Kent State at Iowa+22.0L7–3055.5L7–30UN
Sat 9/25Kent State at Maryland+13.0L16–3771.5L16–37UN
Sat 10/2Kent State vs Bowling Green-16.5W27–2056.0W27–20UN
Sat 10/9Kent State vs Buffalo-7.0W48–3866.0W48–38OY
Sat 10/16Kent State at Western Michigan+7.0L31–6468.5L31–64ON
Sat 10/23Kent State at Ohio-5.0W34–2768.5W34–27UY
— Bye Week —
Wed 11/3Kent State vs Northern Illinois-3.5W52–4772.0W52–47OY
Wed 11/10Kent State at Central Michigan+2.5L30–5476.5L30–54ON
Sat 11/20Kent State at Akron-13.5W38–072.5W38–0UY
Sat 11/27Kent State vs Miami (OH)+1.0W48–4768.0W48–47OY
Sat 12/4Kent State vs Northern Illinois-3.5L23–4175.5L23–41UN
Tue 12/21Kent State vs Wyoming+3.0L38–5261.0L38–52ON
Iowa 2021 Schedule
Iowa's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Iowa vs Indiana-3.5W34–645.5W34–6UY
Sat 9/11Iowa at Iowa State+4.0W27–1745.0W27–17UY
Sat 9/18Iowa vs Kent State-22.0W30–755.5W30–7UY
Sat 9/25Iowa vs Colorado State-24.0W24–1443.5W24–14UN
Fri 10/1Iowa at Maryland-3.0W51–1447.5W51–14OY
Sat 10/9Iowa vs Penn State-2.5W23–2041.0W23–20OY
Sat 10/16Iowa vs Purdue-11.0L7–2442.5L7–24UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/30Iowa at Wisconsin+3.0L7–2735.5L7–27UN
Sat 11/6Iowa at Northwestern-11.5W17–1240.5W17–12UN
Sat 11/13Iowa vs Minnesota-4.0W27–2237.5W27–22OY
Sat 11/20Iowa vs Illinois-12.0W33–2337.5W33–23ON
Fri 11/26Iowa at Nebraska+1.5W28–2141.0W28–21OY
Sat 12/4Iowa vs Michigan+12.0L3–4243.5L3–42ON
Sat 1/1Iowa vs Kentucky+3.0L17–2043.5L17–20UY
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
Kent State PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Kent State
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Kent State
+0.380
Iowa
+0.362
Kent State Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Kent State
+0.411
Iowa
+0.442
Iowa Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Kent State
0.153
Iowa
0.159
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Iowa Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Kent State
+7.502
Iowa
+7.432
Kent State Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Kent State
+0.879
Iowa
+0.857
Kent State Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Kent State
70.6
Iowa
66.6
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Iowa Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Iowa Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Kent State
-16.7
Iowa
11.5
Offense Rating
Kent State
7.5
Iowa
18.6
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Kent State
24.2
Iowa
7.1
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Iowa Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Kent State #61
0.00
Iowa #51
1.00
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Kent State #106
0.00
Iowa #35
0.00
Iowa +1.00
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 71.6% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Iowa Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Kent State #1
49.9
Iowa #1
77.1
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Kent State #80
49.2
Iowa #51
9.7
Iowa +27.1
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 76% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Iowa with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Kent State
Sean Lewis #1
13–19 (41%) · Yr 4 at school
OC Andrew Sowder Yr 1 #1
DC Tom Kaufman Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Iowa
Kirk Ferentz #1
171–106 (62%) · Yr 23 at school
OC Brian Ferentz Yr 1 #1
DC Phil Parker Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself