Nebraska vs Iowa Prediction, Preview & Odds – Black Friday Football
By Eric Rosales in College Football
Published:
- The Iowa Hawkeyes are 3.5-point favorites over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Black Friday college football action
- Iowa has won three of its last four games, while Nebraska’s offense is heating up
- Read below for Nebraska vs Iowa betting line, prediction and pick
Two bowl-bound schools clash in a classic Big Ten rivalry to close out each team’s regular season, when the Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten) visit the Iowa Hawkeyes (7-4, 5-3 Big Ten).
The ‘Huskers have dropped four of its last five coming into this one, and Iowa has dominated this head-to-head of late, both contributing factors why they Hawkeyes are home favorites in the college football odds.
Let’s dive into our Nebraska vs Iowa prediction for Black Friday Football.
Nebraska vs Iowa Odds
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Cornhuskers | +3.5 (-110) | +135 | O 40.0 (-110) |
| Iowa Hawkeyes | -3.5 (-110) | -160 | U 40.0 (-110) |
Iowa is a 3.5-point favorite to hoist the Heroes Trophy, and will look for its ninth win in the last 10 against Nebraska. The total is set at 40 points.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30pm ET at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, with NBC carrying the broadcast.
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Huskers Rediscover Offense to Break Skid
Nebraska snapped an ugly four-game losing streak with a convincing 44-25 win over the Wisconsin Badgers in Week 13.
The Cornhuskers finally found some offense to support a defense that’s been delivering, ranking 35th in the nation in yards allowed, 21st in rush yards surrendered, while giving up less than 220 passing yards (66th).
Dylan Raiola threw for 293 yards and a score, while Emmett Johnson paced a rush attack that put up 180 yards and cashed four majors. Johnson finished with 113 yards on 16 carries, also adding 85 receiving yards on six grabs.
A thing of beauty.
📺 @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/Lm7WjsKERe
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) November 23, 2024
Nebraska had scored 20 points or less in five straight games, losing four, and going 1-3 in one-score games. Raiola threw for under 200 yards in four games, while no Husker back had more than 61 yards rushing in any game.
That offensive output was important as they visit an Iowa team that is among the top defenses in the country, and suddenly has an offense riding alongside.
Hawkeyes Seek Fourth Straight 8-Win Season
Iowa does what it seemingly always seems to do: put together a solid campaign. A win Friday would give the Hawkeyes a fourth-straight 8-win season and the ninth since 2015.
They’re in position after picking up four wins in the last six.
Defense is always the calling card — Iowa’s 29-13 win over Maryland last time out marked the fifth time in six games they’ve held its opponent to 17 points or less.
KALEB JOHNSON 39 YD TD HIS 15TH OF THE SEASON pic.twitter.com/PhIfLjiuyK
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) October 26, 2024
On the year, Iowa is allowing just 17.7 points per game, which ranks fifth in the Big Ten, while ranking inside the conference’s Top 8 in rush yards, pass yards and total yards allowed.
What’s different, though, is a Top-5 scoring offense in the Big Ten, as they are putting up 29.4 points per game, nearly doubling the team’s 15.4-point per game output last season.
They pound the rock with RB Kaleb Johnson, whose 1,492 rush yards and 21 TDs are both conference-best.
Nebraska vs Iowa Prediction
Did Nebraska unlock something offensively against Wisconsin, or is that an outlier performance against an evenly matched opponent?
We should find out Friday, as Iowa has been dominating Big Ten competition at home. They’re 5-1 at Kinnick, and have blasted their last three conference opponents by an average of 27.3 points in wins, touching 40 points in each.
Nebraska vs Iowa Last 5 Games
| Date | Result | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 24, 2023 | Iowa 13 Nebraska 10 | IOWA +2.5 | Under 25.0 |
| Nov 25, 2022 | Nebraska 24 Iowa 17 | NEB +10.0 | Over 37.5 |
| Nov 26, 2021 | Iowa 28 Nebraska 21 | IOWA +2.0 | Over 41.0 |
| Nov 27, 2020 | Iowa 26 Nebraska 20 | NEB +14.0 | Under 53.5 |
| Nov 29, 2019 | Iowa 27 Nebraska 24 | NEB +4.5 | Over 45.0 |
If there is one notable gambling quirk in this series, it’s that the underdog has covered the spread in six straight. Nebraska has four of those covers, despite losing three of those games.
However, Iowa has built up an offense that should be able to get the points it needs in a rivalry that, at times, looks like a rockfight.
- Pick: Iowa -3.5Â (-110)
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Sports Writer & Editor
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
