Northern Illinois Huskies (0-0) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (0-0)
September 5, 2026 4:15 pm EDT
The Line: Iowa Hawkeyes -11.5; Over/Under: 45.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Northern Illinois Huskies and the Iowa Hawkeyes meet Saturday in college football action from Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Here’s an Iowa vs Northern Illinois prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Iowa vs Northern Illinois pick.
Northern Illinois Huskies Betting Preview
Northern Illinois had a forgettable season in 2025, which was their last dance in the MAC (the team joins the Mountain West this year). The Huskies managed to go just 3-9 overall last year, with a 2-6 run in conference play. That result would leave NIU way down in 11th place, ahead of only UMass in the standings. Northern Illinois’ season was highlighted by a six-game losing streak and a 1-3 run to close out the year over the last four games.
Let’s turn the page to 2026. The team will be led by interim head coach Rob Harley, who will have first-year offensive coordinator Tony Petersen beside him on the sideline. Harley and Petersen will have some options at QB this year, as well as a couple of interesting guys in the skill positions. RB Telly Johnson is back in the fold after 5.7 yards per carry last season, and DeAree Rogers will be the big-name receiver.
Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview
Over on the Hawkeyes’ side, they fought through a very tough Big Ten slate last year on the way to a 9-4 overall record. Iowa went 6-3 in the conference games, which put the team in a respectable sixth-place position behind Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan and USC. In the ReliaQuest Bowl, the Hawkeyes finished off their campaign with a 34-27 win over Vanderbilt.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz will be back for an impressive 28th season at the helm for Iowa. He’ll get veteran DC Phil Parker (15th year) and offensive coordinator Tim Lester (third year) back as well. Iowa had seven guys get drafted by the NFL in the offseason, so they’ve got some big shoes to fill moving forward. The Hawkeyes have had to do some revamping on both the offensive and defensive lines thanks to key losses via transfers and the draft.
Why the Iowa Hawkeyes will win
- Iowa has won each of its last 10 games against non-AP-ranked teams.
- Northern Illinois has lost each of its last eight games as an underdog.
- Northern Illinois has failed to cover the spread in each of its last six games as an underdog.
- Iowa has covered the spread in five of its last six games.
- Iowa has won the first quarter in 12 of its last 15 games against non-conference opponents at Kinnick Stadium.
- Northern Illinois has lost the first half in each of its last seven games as a road underdog.
Why the Northern Illinois Huskies will win
- Northern Illinois has won each of its last five season openers.
- Iowa has lost three of its last four games as an AP-ranked team.
- Northern Illinois has covered the spread in each of its last seven road openers.
- The team ranked 22nd in the AP Poll has failed to cover the spread in eight of its last 10 games.
- Northern Illinois has won the first quarter in four of its last five games.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Iowa’s last seven September games as a favorite have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of Northern Illinois’ last five September games as an underdog have gone UNDER the total points line.
Iowa Hawkeyes Player Prop Facts
- Zach Lutmer ranked T8th in the Big Ten Conference for interceptions (3) last season.
Northern Illinois Huskies Player Prop Facts
- Brady Davidson has recorded a 120.0+ passer rating in two consecutive games – equal-longest streak in the FBS.
Matchup/League Facts
- Iowa ranked 1st among FBS teams for 4th down conversion percentage against last season (23.8).
- Iowa ranked 5th among FBS teams for 1st downs against last season (203).
- Northern Illinois ranked 134th among FBS teams for H2 points per game last season (6.9).
- Northern Illinois ranked 134th among FBS teams for passing yards per game last season (98.8).
Iowa vs Northern Illinois Prediction
I’ll still go with Iowa in this one. The Hawkeyes will look a bit different on the field this year, but thanks to veteran coaching and some solid incoming transfers the transition period shouldn’t be too bad. Iowa has a deep backfield and a good group of tight ends including DJ Vonnahme, and there are at least a couple of good options at QB if needed. The bad news for the Hawkeyes lies on the schedule, as tough games versus Michigan, Ohio State and Washington loom this month. Still, many pundits have Iowa finishing around the eight-win mark, which would be great in a difficult Big Ten. This is an easy matchup to start with.
As for NIU, this is a transitional year in pretty much all respects. The Huskies have some nice skill players at their disposal however, so we could very well see a step forward for the team. The secondary boasts a few talented and experienced transfers as well. Northern Illinois likely won’t get close in this one, but it may not be too tough to find a few bright spots.
