(4) Iowa at Nebraska
Time: 2:30 PM ET (ABC)
Spread: IOWA -2
Total: 57.5
Betting odds c/o 5dimes
The 5-6 Nebraska Cornhuskers may not have had all go as planned this season, but salvaging it could be done in the form of knocking off No. 4 ranked Iowa. The Hawkeyes have yet to lose this season, but find itself just 2-point favorites it the game which will air at 2:30 on ABC. The over/under for the contest is set at 57.5.
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Nebraska has been doing its fair share of pre-game smack talk, but Iowa WR Matt VandeBerg said that his teammates are not letting it get to them, “Some of the things coming out of their camp toward us aren’t necessarily the nicest things and we’re just going to have to go out there and do our job,” he commented. While VandeBerg did not elucidate what has been said, it is a strong indication that there is a rivalry growing between these Big Ten clubs.
This year it is Iowa that is the powerhouse while Nebraska is mediocre in every way. Iowa HC Kirk Ferentz said his team is avoiding getting sucked into the hype fest, adding “The chore has been for us to get involved. Our job is to be able to play with those guys, to go out and compete with them, because they recruit well and have had great teams in the past.”
Since the two schools were placed in the same division within the Big Ten, the game has had hype building. The game has been dubbed “The Heroes game” and there is a trophy for the winner of this contest, for whatsoever that even matters.
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Iowa and Nebraska built steam for this two seasons ago when the Hawkeyes went to Nebraska and pounced on them with a 38-17 ‘W,’ which caused Cornhuskers coach Bo Pelini to say “If they want to fire me, go ahead!” He got his wish, though it did not come until a year later.
Nebraska knocked off Iowa 37-34 in OT last season, coming back from 17 down, but it was not enough to keep Pelini a Cornhusker. Since then, Ferentz has made a lot of changes in the program, and the turnaround has Iowa on the brink of an unbeaten season.
Cornhuskers’ WR Jordan Westerkamp said, “They’ll definitely remember that from last year and take it into this week,” so there is little ambiguity that this rivalry is getting pretty intense. HC Mike Riley has had his bumps and bruises this season, and the Huskers will need this game to have a shot at a Bowl game. It seems quite necessary given how disappointing this season has been for fans in Lincoln. A win would also give Iowa little shot at taking a National Championship, which may be greater incentive than the Bowl Game (but probably not).
Iowa QB C.J. Beathard has 2,257 yards this season on 61 percent passing and has thrown 13 TDs with just three picks on the season, good to post a passer rating of 139.9. VandeBerg has been his top receiver with 594 yards on a team-high 56 receptions. He has three TDs on the season and is averring 10.6 yards per reception. No. 2 WR Tevaun Smith has 433 yards and a pair of TDs on the season, while junior TE George Kittle leads the team in receiving TDs with five.
In the backfield Nebraska will have to contend with Jordan Canzeri who has 824 yards on 159 carries (5.2 yards per attempt) while leading the team in TDs with 10. No. 2 back LeShun Daniels Jr has 590 yards on 122 carries and eight TDs.
No matter which poison Nebraska picks, it will have to deal with a potent Hawkeyes offense, and the total for this game is appropriately set high.
