Northwestern Wildcats vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
Saturday, 10/26/13, 12:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Iowa -3
Current Betting Line: Iowa -4.5
Opening Total: N/A
Current Total: N/A
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Northwestern will be attempting to win for the fourth time in its last five trips to Iowa City, while it can improve upon its 18-11 record in true road games since the beginning of the 2008 season. The Wildcats will look to snap a three-game losing streak, which includes a 20-17 defeat to the Minnesota Golden Gophers as 12.5-point home favorites last Saturday. On offense, the program sits atop the Big Ten Conference in red zone efficiency, as it has come away with points on 28 of 29 trips. Northwestern is 7-6 SU and 9-4 ATS on the road the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 7-6 in those 13 opportunities.
The Wildcats have outscored their opponents by a 122-68 margin in the first half this season, while the Hawkeyes own a 130-40 advantage in that time frame—something to consider when looking over the college football betting lines. Defensively, Northwestern’s 13 interceptions through six games this year already matched its total for a full 13-game season a year ago. The team’s 1.86 interceptions per game this season are tied for third nationally with TCU and Virginia Tech.
Iowa has dropped back-to-back games, including a 34-24 setback to the Ohio State Buckeyes as 18.5-point road underdogs last Saturday, while going OVER the total in each of those affairs. The Hawkeyes hold a 47-24-3 advantage in a series that began in 1897, which is important to consider when making your college football expert picks in Week 9. The team’s three losses have come to teams that have a combined record of 20-1, but the defense has held every opponent under its rushing average this season. Iowa is 3-3 SU and 2-4 ATS as favorites of 3.5 to 10 points the last two-plus seasons.
The Hawkeyes have allowed just five sacks this season, which is the seventh-best total in the country in that statistical category. Iowa has been successful on 50 percent of its third-down attempts this season—tied for the second-best conversion rate in the conference and 14th nationally.
Sports bettors will likely back the Wildcats due to their 4-1 ATS mark in the last five meetings in this series.
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