The Nebraska Cornhuskers aren’t quite in the same echelon as the elite teams in the Big Ten, but have nonetheless put together a nice season and can cap it with a road win against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The teams will face off in Week 13 of the college football season.
Nebraska still has a shot at the Big Ten West division, so there will be no shortage of motivation. The Cornhuskers have been the better team so this one could be competitive, although some of that depends on the health of quarterback Tommy Armstrong, Jr.
This contest in Week 13 of the regular season will go down Friday, November 25, 2016 at time still to be determined at Kinnick Stadium.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Nebraska
Iowa
Odds Analysis
There has been no spread released yet. Nebraska should be a plucky road team, but Iowa could be the favorite due to the comfortable surrounding.
The Cornhuskers are 5-5-1 against the spread, including two covers in four tries away from home. The Hawkeyes are 5-6 against the spread and have only covered in two of six home games this season.
Unit to Watch
The Iowa defense – Iowa ranks in the Top 20 in the nation for points allowed with opposing offenses averaging just 20.5 points a game, but the Hawkeyes defense has been hot and cold this year. The team allowed 41 points and 599 yards in the loss to Penn State earlier this month then turned around and shocked the world with its 14 - 13 win over No. 3 Michigan the next week, holding the Wolverines to just 201 total yards in the upset.
The Hawkeyes are fresh off a shutout of Illinois on Saturday and face a big test in Nebraska. The defensive line will be the key with senior tackles Jaleel Johnson and Faith Ekakitie leading the way. Nebraska is a pretty good rushing team so expect Iowa to key in on that.
Injury Report
Armstrong didn’t play last time out because of a hamstring injury. He has dealt with a variety of ailments of late, including a head injury and a twisted ankle.
Armstrong hurt his hamstring while scoring the game-winning touchdown two weeks ago against Minnesota. He has started a school-record-tying 43 games on the season, so this one would be historic if he can return. Keep an eye on his availability as it could be crucial.
Armstrong is 138-of-259 for 2,055 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has added 107 carries for 499 yards and eight touchdowns.
Nebraska’s backup is Ryker Fyfe. He kept the team afloat last week, throwing for 220 yards and a touchdown in a 28-7 win over Maryland.
Free ATS Pick
It wasn’t too long ago Nebraska was in the top-10 nationally and undefeated. The Huskers lost a tough road game to Wisconsin and then were blasted by Ohio State.
That sent them down the polls, and even two recent wins hasn’t brought the shine back. Even though Nebraska wasn’t a real College Football Playoff contender, it has still put together a nice season. This would cap the regular season in a nice way, but it won’t be easy.
Many may expect Nebraska to win, but Iowa is a tough foe. The Hawkeyes have four losses but the defense has been great lately. If Nebraska has to use its backup quarterback again, that could lead to trouble. Keep an eye on that situation, with the Hawkeyes as the choice to pick up this victory at home.
Check out the over/under when it is released as this one could be a low-scoring, grind-it-out type affair. The “under” could be the correct choice depending on where the scoring total is presented.
College Football Odds: Iowa 24, Nebraska 17
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