Two teams that prefer to focus on their running games, Head Coach Scott Frost and the Nebraska Cornhuskers (+9) are facing off against the Iowa Hawkeyes (-9) at Kinnick Stadium. This Friday matchup will get underway at 12:00 p.m. ET and FOX is scheduled to broadcast the action. When these two programs met last year, Iowa knocked off Nebraska by six touchdowns 56-14.
Betting Preview: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
Nebraska is getting picked to play the role of underdog and is currently getting 9 points in this Big 10 matchup. The Cornhuskers are also receiving +270 moneyline odds while the Hawkeyes are -350. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 53 points, and if one side finds paydirt early on, it’ll probably create a decent live betting scenario.
The line originally opened at -8 while the game’s O/U was initially 54, so sharp bettors have been leaning toward both the Hawkeyes and the under.
The disappointing Cornhuskers are 6-4 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 7.8 units so far. The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 6-4.
The Hawkeyes have lost 0.8 units this season. The team is 7-3-1 ATS and the over has hit in six of its games.
The Cornhuskers have gone only 4-7 straight up (SU), including 3-5 SU against Big 10 opponents. The Hawkeyes are 7-4 SU overall and are also 4-4 SU in conference play.
The Cornhuskers got their second W in as many tries after a 9-6 victory over Michigan State last week. The passing game left much to be desired as Adrian Martinez completed only 16-of-37 passes for 145 yards. Devine Ozigbo (74 rushing yards on 18 attempts) led the ground attack. Stanley Morgan Jr. (four receptions, 67 yards) and Ozigbo (three catches, 20 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
The Iowa Hawkeyes just earned a lopsided 63-0 win over Illinois. The defense let the Fighting Illini rush for 149 yards on 43 attempts. Ra’Von Bonner had a productive outing in the loss for Illinois, recording 111 rushing yards on 21 attempts. For Iowa, Nate Stanley completed 13-of-21 passes for 178 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Mekhi Sargent (121 yards on 17 rush attempts, two TDs) and Toren Young (67 yards on 14 carries, two TDs) handled the running game while Noah Fant (three receptions, 54 yards, one TD) and Brandon Smith (three catches, 39 yards) led the receiving attack in the win.
When glancing at offensive play-calling, each team sports a strikingly similar (54-46) run-pass ratio on the season. Having said that, the Cornhuskers have produced 215.3 rush yards per game (including 203.3 per game versus Big Ten opponents) and have 24 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Hawkeyes haven’t been quite as productive, as they’re logging 152.5 rushing yards per game (144.6 in conference) and have 17 total rush TDs.
The Cornhuskers offensive scheme has averaged 246.0 yards through the air overall (256.4 per game versus conference opposition) and has 17 passing scores so far. The Hawkeyes have put up 234.5 pass yards per game (242 against Big 10 foes) and have 22 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Nebraska has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 189.4 yards and pass for 245.5 yards per game. The Iowa D has allowed 180.1 yards per game to opposing passers and 100.8 yards per game on the ground. The Hawkeyes are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 3.65 to opponents, while the Cornhuskers have allowed a 5.43 ANY/A.
Offensively, Martinez is up to 2,067 passing yards on the year. The signal-caller has connected on 174-of-275 attempts with 12 passing scores and six interceptions. He’s got a 6.59 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 5.65 over the last two games.
The Cornhuskers will likely try to maintain tempo by pounding the defense with their running backs. Along with Stanley Morgan Jr. (792 yards, five TDs), Devine Ozigbo (870 rush yards, nine rush TDs, 148 receiving yards) and Maurice Washington (379 rush yards, three rush TDs) have really been focal points in the offensive game scripts for Nebraska.
In the home locker room, Nate Stanley has completed 171-of-297 passes for 2,217 yards, 20 TDs and nine INTs. Stanley’s ANY/A sits at 6.96 for the year and 7.20 over his past two outings.
The Hawkeyes also prefer to heavily feature their backfield. In addition to Mekhi Sargent (129 receiving yards), T.J. Hockenson (four rush yards, one rush TD, 574 receiving yards, six receiving TDs) and Ihmir Smith-Marsette (63 rush yards, 234 receiving yards, one TD) have gotten quite a few action lately.
Nebraska Cornhuskers at Iowa Hawkeyes Free Pick
SU Winner: Iowa, ATS Winner: Iowa, O/U: Under
Betting Trends
- Iowa has lost six fumbles this season while Nebraska has lost 11.
- The Iowa defensive unit has sacked opposing QBs 31 times this season. Nebraska has registered just 25 sacks.
- As a team, Nebraska has produced 5.3 yards per carry over its last three games and 6.5 over its last two.
- Iowa has averaged 4.0 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.5 over its past two.
- Over its last three games, Iowa is 1-1-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Nebraska’s previous game was set at 48. The under cashed in the team’s 9-6 victory over Michigan State.
- Over its last three matchups, Nebraska is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Iowa’s last matchup was 59.5. The over cashed in the 63-0 win over Illinois.
- Nebraska has won five of its last six games SU, with a five-point defeat to Ohio State on November 3rd accounting for the only loss over that stretch.
