Hlastradamus says the Iowa teams deliver the wagering goods this week

Hlastradamus picks football games with feel. If he feels the bookies’ collection agencies are getting too close, he feels it’s time to move to another state.

It’s why he’s feeling the pressure after a rough start this season. If this week goes poorly, he may have to change his name and appearance, and go to work managing a Cinnabon in an Omaha mall.

Fear not, those who need excellent advice. Here are two winners, and they’re for free instead of for whatever tout-scammers charge to the wildly gullible.

Iowa -23 vs. Nevada

Incarnate Word had 55 points and 616 yards against Nevada last week. Surely the Hawkeyes can fall forward for at least half those totals, right?

Nevada quarterback Nate Cox is 6-foot-9, but he won’t be looking down on Iowa’s defense. If the Wolf Pack puts up a scoring total that has two digits, it will be the most-shocking thing since someone left Reno with their dignity intact.

Iowa State -18.5 vs. Ohio

Ohio has lost its last three games against Power Five conference teams by at least 20 points, and fell 46-10 at Penn State last week.

Matt Campbell’s coaching record against Mid-American Conference teams is 26-8.

September had been the cruelest month for Campbell’s Iowa State teams and those who bet on the Cyclones. This year, the Clones are 2-0 against the spread.

If Ohio would call itself The Ohio University, Hlastradamus would at least be impressed with the Bobcats’ gumption. Until then, this is just another team with a four-letter name that Iowa State will defeat.

Bonus pick

Minnesota -6500 vs. Colorado

If a bank told you it would give you $100 if you would give it $6,500 to hold for just three hours, would you do it?

Of course you would. If you didn’t have that kind of scratch, you’d figure something out. Free money is something you can’t refuse.

Minnesota is trampling awful teams. It trampled New Mexico State, 38-0. It trampled Western Illinois, 62-10. It let WIU get a 75-yard touchdown late in the game after holding the Leathernecks to 119 yards before that.

Colorado is awful. It got trampled 38-13 by TCU. It got trampled 41-14 by Air Force.

The Gophers lead the nation in total offense. The Buffaloes are 104th in total defense.

The Gophers lead the nation in total defense. The Buffaloes are 125th in total offense.

Take Minnesota and throw the 28 points if you want to barely gamble. If you want free money, put up $65 to win a dollar, or $65,000 to win a grand.

Is that too scary for you? The kiddie game is down the street. This is where the adult prophets play.