Nebraska at Iowa Game Preview, Prediction
by Pete Fiutak, CollegeFootballNews.com
Okay fine. Is it really a rivalry if one side keeps beating on the other?
Nebraska won three of the first four meetings when these two started playing around Thanksgiving weekend, but Iowa has won eight of the last nine including a 13-10 thriller last year to keep the Huskers out of a bowl game -- again.
That came after the Huskers pulled off a shocker in 2022 to keep the Hawkeyes out of the Big Ten Championship Game.
This time there's no Big Ten title dream for either side to worry about, and for the first time since 2016 there's no bowl game for Nebraska to be stressed about -- it blasted Wisconsin last week to finally get a six-win season.
Now it's about these two jockeying for bowl position -- and bragging rights in one of college football's newest fun rivalries.
Nebraska (6-5) at Iowa (7-4)
Friday, November 29 - 6:30 PM (CT) - NBC
Why Nebraska Will Win
Well that's how it's all supposed to work.
Wisconsin might not be all that great, but who cares? Nebraska showed off a real, live offense with new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen kicking it all in.
The 473 yards against the Badgers were by a mile the most the team came up with since the blowout win over UTEP in the season opener.
The biggest key last week was a strong, physical ground game that took the pressure off QB Dylan Raiola. Nebraska is 5-1 when running for more than 4.3 yards per carry, but .........
Why Iowa Will Win
.......Iowa is good at bashing away on teams that aren't used to being bashed on.
It ripped through the Badgers for 329 rushing yards, ran through Minnesota and Washington, and on the year Kaleb Johnson and the Hawkeyes rumbled for 200 yards or more in every game but three -- Iowa lost all of them.
The Huskers have an active defensive front that's great at getting around the ball, but the Iowa is 6-0 when running for 220 yards or more.
What Will Happen
Can the Iowa ground game really get rumbling?
The Iowa defense is still great at forcing takeaways, and it'll come up with at least two, likely three, and Kaleb Johnson will take care of the rest.
Nebraska will keep this close and tight, but once again it'll come down to the final five minutes and a big kick. The Hawkeyes will grind out the big drive needed to pull this out.
Prediction
Iowa 23, Nebraska 17
Spread
Iowa is favored at home by 5.5 points. The over/under is set at 39.5 points.
