A matchup that showcases a pair of programs ranked in the Top 25 nationally, the No. 25 Nebraska Cornhuskers are getting 5.5 points as they prepare to host the No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes to Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium. This Big 10 showdown is scheduled to get going at 2:30 p.m. ET and BTN will televise the action.
Betting Preview: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
Nebraska is entering this Big 10 game as the underdog and is currently getting 5.5 points. The Hawkeyes are also receiving -235 moneyline odds while the Cornhuskers are +185. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 48 points, and if one side can get out in front early on, it would likely produce a solid betting opportunity in-game.
The line originally opened at 4.5 and the game’s O/U was initially 48.5, so it appears that the sharp action is siding with the Hawkeyes.
The Hawkeyes have gained 3.0 units so far and are 5-6 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U mark of 3-8.
The disappointing Cornhuskers have lost 4.3 units this season. They’re 2-9 ATS and have an O/U record of 4-6-1.
The Hawkeyes have gone 8-3 straight up (SU), including 5-3 SU against conference opponents. The Cornhuskers are 5-6 SU overall and 3-5 SU in conference play.
These two teams met last year with the final result being a 31-28 win for Iowa.
The Hawkeyes got their second W in as many tries after a 19-10 win over Illinois last week. Nate Stanley completed only 18-of-35 passes for 308 yards and one interception. Tyler Goodson (38 yards on 21 rush attempts, one TD) spearheaded the running attack. Tyrone Tracy Jr. (six receptions, 56 yards) and Ihmir Smith-Marsette (four catches, 121 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Nebraska just earned a 54-7 win over Maryland. As a group, the Cornhuskers collectively completed 19-of-30 passes for 226 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Adrian Martinez went 16-for-25 for 194 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while Luke McCaffrey was three-of-five for 32 yards. Rahmir Johnson (55 rushing yards on 18 attempts, one TD) and Dedrick Mills (65 yards on 12 carries, one TD) spearheaded the running game while JD Spielman (seven receptions, 104 yards, two TDs) and Mills (two catches, 19 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Iowa has run the ball on 51.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Nebraska has a rush percentage of 61.9 percent. The Hawkeyes have run for 131.7 yards per game (including 96.6 per game against Big Ten opponents) and have 12 scores on the ground this year. The Cornhuskers are putting up 205 rush yards per game (217.5 in conference) and have 26 total rushing TDs.
The Hawkeyes offensive scheme has logged 242.2 yards per contest in the air overall (239.8 per game against conference opposition) and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Cornhuskers have recorded 222.8 pass yards per game (212 in the Big 10) and have 11 total pass scores.
Iowa should have an edge in both areas of the defense. The team’s let opponents rush for an average of 114.3 yards and pass for 191.8 yards per game. The Nebraska D has given up 210 yards per game to opposing passers and 184.7 yards per game on the ground. The Hawkeyes are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.66 to opposing QBs, while the Cornhuskers have given up a 5.37 ANY/A.
Offensively, Stanley has amassed 2,466 passing yards this season, and has completed 60 percent of his 325 attempts with 12 passing scores and six interceptions. Stanley’s got a 6.58 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 7.52 over the last two games.
Adrian Martinez has completed 126-of-210 passes for 1,686 yards, nine TDs and seven INTs for Nebraska. His ANY/A stands at 6.44 for the year and 6.58 across his past two outings.
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Free NCAA Betting Tip
SU Winner: Iowa, ATS Winner: Iowa, O/U: Under
Betting Trends
- The Over/Under for Iowa’s previous game was set at 48. The under cashed in the team’s 19-10 triumph over Illinois.
- As a team, Iowa has produced 3.3 yards per carry across its past three games and 3.1 over its last two.
- Nebraska has averaged 5.5 yards per carry over its last three outings and 6.1 over its last two.
- Nebraska has lost 11 fumbles this season while Iowa has lost four.
- In its last three contests, Iowa is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Iowa has won five of its last six games SU, with a November 9th defeat to Wisconsin accounting for the only loss over that stretch.
- The O/U for Nebraska’s previous matchup was 63.5. The under cashed in the 54-7 victory over Maryland.
- In its last three games, Nebraska is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Hawkeyes offense has registered eight pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Cornhuskers have accounted for 10 such plays.
- The Iowa defense has allowed seven pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Nebraska has given up six such plays.
- The Iowa offense has created 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Nebraska has created 22 such runs.
- The Hawkeyes defense has allowed three rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Cornhuskers have given up 17 such runs.
- The Nebraska defense has tallied 27 sacks on the year while Iowa has 26.
