The Iowa Hawkeyes and the Nebraska Cornhuskers meet Friday in college football action from Memorial Stadium Lincoln. Iowa is fresh off a matchup versus Illinois last weekend. In that one the Hawkeyes improved to 9-2 with a two-point win. As for 5-6 Nebraska, they’re coming off a game against Wisconsin. The Cornhuskers ended up losing a tough game in overtime. Here you can read our Iowa vs Nebraska Prediction.
Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes managed to win eight of their first 10 games this year, doing it mostly with defense in spite of an 18.8 points per game average. Iowa posted just 122 yards per game, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions via the pass during that time. On the ground, the Hawkeyes averaged 3.5 yards per play and 121.0 yards per game with nine rush scores.
In their last game versus Illinois, the Hawkeyes defense really came through—and the offense did just enough—during a 15-13 victory. Deacon Hill passed for 167 yards and a TD. Leshon Williams rushed 16 times for 54 yards, and Kaleb Brown added 71 yards on his seven catches during the close win.
Iowa Hawkeyes Team Facts
- Iowa has won each of its last nine November road games against non-AP-ranked teams.
- Iowa has covered the spread in each of its last six games as an underdog against non-AP-ranked teams.
- Each of Iowa’s last six games against non-AP-ranked teams have gone UNDER the total points line.
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Nebraska Cornhuskers
Over on the Cornhuskers’ side, they opened up the season with a .500 clip over their first 10 outings. Nebraska was in much the same boat offensively during that stretch, averaging just 18.3 points per game. The Cornhuskers had real problems with the passing game on 127.3 yards per game, eight scores and 14 interceptions total.
Matched up against Wisconsin back on Saturday, the Cornhuskers were up 14-0 after one quarter but could only muster a field goal the rest of the way in a 24-17 loss. QB Chubba Purdy managed 169 yards with one TD and one pick while also leading the rush on 105 yards and another score. Jaylen Lloyd caught the TD pass with his lone 58-yard grab.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Team Facts
- Nebraska has lost each of its last 23 games against AP-ranked teams.
- Nebraska has failed to cover the spread in each of its last six games against AP-ranked teams.
- Six of the last seven games between Iowa and Nebraska have gone OVER the total points line.
Matchup/League Facts
- Nebraska rank 19th among FBS teams for points allowed per game this season (18.7).
- Iowa rank 3rd among FBS teams for points allowed per game this season (12.4).
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably just stick with Iowa. This is looking like something of a strange matchup, though. The Hawkeyes had trouble putting away a mediocre Illinois team in their last outing, mustering just 281yards of offense (167 passing) and 18 first downs. Iowa took good care of the ball though, and held the Illini to just 280 yards (215 passing) with 18 first downs on the other side.
As for Nebraska, they stalled out on offense after the first quarter during their OT loss to Wisconsin. The Cornhuskers finished with 364 yards (169 passing), 19 first downs and 5-of-12 on third-down tries in the defeat. It’s going to take a lot more than that to crack Iowa’s defense, and I don’t think Nebraska will get there.