A couple of teams that prefer to run the football, Head Coach Scott Frost and the Nebraska Cornhuskers (+9) are gearing up to face off against their conference rival Iowa Hawkeyes (-9) at Kinnick Stadium. This afternoon matchup will commence at 12:00 p.m. ET and FOX has the TV rights.
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview
This Friday Big 10 game shows the Cornhuskers as a big underdogs and they’re currently getting 9 points. The Cornhuskers are also receiving +270 moneyline odds while the Hawkeyes are -350. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 53 points, and should one team can find paydirt early, it will likely generate a worthy live betting scenario.
The early action has shifted to both the Hawkeyes and the under. The opening line was originally -8 while the total was set initially at 54.
The disappointing Cornhuskers are down 7.8 units so far and 6-4 against the spread (ATS). The team’s recorded an O/U mark 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 a lousy 4-7 straight up (SU), including 3-5 SU against conference 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 win over Michigan State last week. The passing attack could’ve been more effective as Adrian Martinez completed only 16 passes on 37 attempts for 145 yards. Devine Ozigbo (74 yards on 18 rush attempts) mounted the ground attack. Stanley Morgan Jr. (four receptions, 67 yards) and Ozigbo (three catches, 20 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Iowa enters this one having just earned a 63-0 win over Illinois. 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 pass-catching corps in the win.
Each of these squads sports a strikingly similar (54-46) run-pass ratio on the season. Having said that, the Cornhuskers have rushed for 215 yards per game (including 203 per game against Big Ten opponents) and have 24 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Hawkeyes haven’t been quite as productive, as they’re putting up 153 rush yards per game (145 in conference) and have 17 total rushing TDs.
The Cornhuskers offense has tallied 246 yards per contest through the air overall (256 per game against conference opposition) and has 17 passing scores so far. The Hawkeyes have recorded 234 pass yards per game (241.5 against Big 10 competition) and have 22 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Nebraska has allowed opponents to run for an average of 189 yards and throw for 245 yards per game. The Iowa defense has given up 180.1 yards per game to opposing passers and 100.8 yards per game on the ground. The Hawkeyes are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 3.65 to opposing QBs, while the Cornhuskers have given up a 5.43 ANY/A.
Offensively, Martinez is up to 2,067 passing yards this season, and has connected on 63 percent of his 275 attempts with 12 scores through the air and six interceptions. He has a 6.59 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 5.65 over the last two games.
We’re looking for Cornhuskers to control the clock by putting the ball into the hands of 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 been big focal points in the Nebraska offensive scheme.
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 stands at 6.96 for the year and 7.20 across his last two outings.
The Hawkeyes also prefer to keep their backfield featured. 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 plenty of action recently.
When these two teams met a year ago, Iowa knocked Nebraska off by six touchdowns 56-14.
RELATED: Week 13 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Prediction: Nebraska Cornhuskers at Iowa Hawkeyes
SU Winner – Iowa, ATS Winner – Iowa, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Iowa defense has sacked opposing QBs 31 times this year. Nebraska has produced just 25 sacks.
The Iowa offense has lost six fumbles in 2018 while the Nebraska offense has let 11 get away.
The Cornhuskers offense has tallied six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Hawkeyes have put up nine such plays.
The Nebraska defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Iowa has given up five such plays.
The Nebraska offense has created 30 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Iowa has created six such runs.
The Cornhuskers defense has allowed 22 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Hawkeyes have given up three such runs.
The Over/Under for Iowa’s last matchup was 59.5. The over cashed in the team’s 63-0 victory over Illinois.
In its last three matchups, Iowa is 1-1-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Over its last three contests, Nebraska is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
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.
The Over/Under for Nebraska’s last game was 48. The under cashed in the team’s 9-6 win over Michigan State.
Nebraska has produced 5.3 yards per carry across its last three games and 6.5 over its last two.
Iowa has averaged 4.0 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.5 over its last two.
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