Time: Noon EST, Saturday
Spread: NW -5
Total: 48.5
M/L: NW -215, IOW +185
Betting Odds from Bookmaker
Iowa had a chance at three straight victories last week after defeating Minnesota and Michigan State in weeks 6 & 7, but they fell 38-14 to Penn State. They’ll look to get back on track against a Northwestern squad that is 6-2 this season and they enter the game as five point dogs to Northwestern, according to college football oddsmakers.
So far, it has been the Hawkeyes’ defense which has kept them competitive. Despite having a pass and rush offense that ranks near the bottom of the nation (103rd and 89th, respectively), the Hawkeyes have held opponents to just 20.1 points per game, which has enabled them to sneak away with a better-than-.500 record, 4-3.
Their defense will get a real test this week though against Wildcat junior RB Venric Mark, who has rushed for 910 yards on the season with nine TDs. The 5’8″ 175 pound Mark has rushed for 100+ yards in all but two Wildcat games thus far this season and had nearly 200 yards against Minnesota two weeks ago, as he rushed 20 times for an average of 9.1 yards per carry.
Creating that type of dominance against Iowa won’t be as easy, but Mark remains the key to this Northwestern team, which ranks 18th in the nation in rushing yardage per game (222.4 yards per game).
Iowa will look to match that ground game with sophomore fullback Mark Weisman, who has rushed for 640 yards on the year on 105 carries, while scoring eight TDs. He’s battling an ankle injury, but is probable and listed as a co-starter for the game.
If Weisman struggles and isn’t at full strength, this game won’t be anywhere near as close as college football oddsmakers have indicated it will be, since the Hawkeyes have so little offensive firepower already and removing Weisman takes away only one more difference makers for the Hawkeyes on that side of the ball.
IOWA BETTING TRENDS:
Hawkeyes are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 following an ATS loss, 18-7 ATS in their last 25 after allowing 200+ rushing yards, 36-15-1 ATS in their last 52 following an SU loss, 18-8-1 ATS in their last 27 after allowing 280+ pass yards, 2-9 ATS in their last 11 on the road, and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs teams with winning home records.
NORTHWESTERN BETTING TRENDS:
Wildcats are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 at home, 5-0 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 280+ yards previous game, 7-1 ATS in their last 8 overall, 4-10 ATS in the last 14 in October, 7-3 ATS in their last 10 after allowing 200 yards previous game.
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