The Iowa Hawkeyes will head to Lincoln, Nebraska, for this game with the Cornhuskers. Still, even though the records are at opposite ends of the spectrum, the Hawkeyes are in for a tough one in enemy territory this Saturday.
The Hawkeyes bring a very tough defense who will constantly be in the backfield, bothering the Cornhuskers running game and QB Martinez. The Huskers will undoubtedly have the advantage in terms of the offenses. However, do not expect a ton of points in this one, as the total for this game is listed at 41, so we are looking at a defensive struggle in all likelihood here.
Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview:
Iowa did well to put a couple of midseason losses behind them, riding a 3 game winning streak before it kicks off. Their last game against Illinois was not amazing, though, as they managed to put up 33 points with only 255 yards of total offense, getting some luck in the form of crucial turnovers in the process.
One amazing thing about this Hawkeyes offense is that Tyler Goodson has led the team in rushing in every game of the season, whether he rushed for 27 yards or 153. That obviously makes him the main man to look out for as the focal point of this offense rushing for 945 total yards on the season.
The absolute strength of this team is the defense, and you can really see how they can have plenty of success with the amount the Cornhuskers throw the ball. That should open up plenty of opportunities for this pass rush to get home and possibly force a turnover or two, which will clearly be crucial in a game with a 41 total.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Preview:
The Cornhuskers have played an absolutely brutal schedule this year with games against Oklahoma, Michigan State, Northwestern, Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, just to name a few. With that said, they have actually hung around against some of those schools, and they certainly are better than their 3-8 record would suggest. That can help to explain why they are only getting 1.5 points here against a team that has only lost twice so far this season.
Their last game against Wisconsin was one of those games where they played well despite losing out-gaining the Badgers by 55 yards, only losing that game due to 2 key turnovers. Those two turnovers came from starting QB Adrian Martinez, who has been a bit up and down so far, but again, considering the level of competition he has been up against, it is hard to judge him too harshly. Martinez has 2863 passing yards on the season, and he was able to throw for over 350 in that last game, so most of the onus for this offense lay on his shoulders.
Despite the Hawkeyes having a strong defense, I also like the way this Cornhusker’s unit has looked, as they have had to play some tough offenses, and they have only allowed 366.5 yards per game, and their front 7 looks scary at times. I really see them having plenty of success here, especially with the home crowd behind them, and obviously, the bookies agree with the 41 total.
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Lines & Odds
The side is very tough in this one, as there are great arguments for both sides. If I was going to bet aside, it would be the Cornhuskers, as I have been impressed enough with some of their losses to the big schools, and think they can go out with a bang here against the Hawkeyes.
The spot that I really like is the under, as I do not see either of these teams being able to move the ball a ton. It is a very low total at 41, but I still think that is a bit high considering the defensive performance I am expecting out of the Cornhuskers.
Free Betting Pick
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Verdict: Under the total 41
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Final Score Prediction: 20-17 Nebraska
