Previewing the Nebraska vs Iowa Black Friday Football Game: Prediction and Odds

• The Iowa Hawkeyes are 3.5-point favorites over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Black Friday college football action
• Iowa has won three of its last four games, while Nebraska’s offense is heating up
• Read below for Nebraska vs Iowa betting line, prediction and pick

Two bowl-bound schools clash in a classic Big Ten rivalry to close out each team’s regular season, when the Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten) visit the Iowa Hawkeyes (7-4, 5-3 Big Ten).

The ‘Huskers have dropped four of its last five coming into this one, and Iowa has dominated this head-to-head of late, both contributing factors why they Hawkeyes are home favorites in the college football odds.

Let’s dive into our Nebraska vs Iowa prediction for Black Friday Football.

Nebraska vs Iowa Odds

Iowa is a 3.5-point favorite to hoist the Heroes Trophy, and will look for its ninth win in the last 10 against Nebraska. The total is set at 40 points.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30pm ET at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, with NBC carrying the broadcast.

Odds as of November 21 at 10pm ET. Be sure to check out the best Caesars Sportsbook promos before placing a bet on any Week 13 College Football matchup.

Huskers Rediscover Offense to Break Skid

Nebraska snapped an ugly four-game losing streak with a convincing 44-25 win over the Wisconsin Badgers in Week 13.

The Cornhuskers finally found some offense to support a defense that’s been delivering, ranking 35th in the nation in yards allowed, 21st in rush yards surrendered, while giving up less than 220 passing yards (66th).

Dylan Raiola threw for 293 yards and a score, while Emmett Johnson paced a rush attack that put up 180 yards and cashed four majors. Johnson finished with 113 yards on 16 carries, also adding 85 receiving yards on six grabs.

A thing of beauty.

📺 @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/Lm7WjsKERe

— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) November 23, 2024

Nebraska had scored 20 points or less in five straight games, losing four, and going 1-3 in one-score games. Raiola threw for under 200 yards in four games, while no Husker back had more than 61 yards rushing in any game.

That offensive output was important as they visit an Iowa team that is among the top defenses in the country, and suddenly has an offense riding alongside.

Hawkeyes Seek Fourth Straight 8-Win Season

Iowa does what it seemingly always seems to do: put together a solid campaign. A win Friday would give the Hawkeyes a fourth-straight 8-win season and the ninth since 2015.

They’re in position after picking up four wins in the last six.

Defense is always the calling card — Iowa’s 29-13 win over Maryland last time out marked the fifth time in six games they’ve held its opponent to 17 points or less.

KALEB JOHNSON 39 YD TD HIS 15TH OF THE SEASON pic.twitter.com/PhIfLjiuyK

— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) October 26, 2024

On the year, Iowa is allowing just 17.7 points per game, which ranks fifth in the Big Ten, while ranking inside the conference’s Top 8 in rush yards, pass yards and total yards allowed.

What’s different, though, is a Top-5 scoring offense in the Big Ten, as they are putting up 29.4 points per game, nearly doubling the team’s 15.4-point per game output last season.

They pound the rock with RB Kaleb Johnson, whose 1,492 rush yards and 21 TDs are both conference-best.

Nebraska vs Iowa Prediction

Did Nebraska unlock something offensively against Wisconsin, or is that an outlier performance against an evenly matched opponent?

We should find out Friday, as Iowa has been dominating Big Ten competition at home. They’re 5-1 at Kinnick, and have blasted their last three conference opponents by an average of 27.3 points in wins, touching 40 points in each.

Nebraska vs Iowa Last 5 Games

If there is one notable gambling quirk in this series, it’s that the underdog has covered the spread in six straight. Nebraska has four of those covers, despite losing three of those games.

However, Iowa has built up an offense that should be able to get the points it needs in a rivalry that, at times, looks like a rockfight.

• Pick: Iowa -3.5  (-110)

The annual Black Friday football game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Iowa Hawkeyes is always a highly anticipated matchup in the Big Ten conference. Both teams have a long-standing rivalry that dates back to 1891, and this year’s game is sure to be no different.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are coming off a disappointing season, finishing with a 3-5 record in the shortened 2020 season. However, they have shown signs of improvement under head coach Scott Frost and are looking to bounce back in a big way this year. Quarterback Adrian Martinez will be leading the offense, and he will have a talented group of receivers to work with, including Wan’Dale Robinson and Omar Manning.

On the other side of the field, the Iowa Hawkeyes had a much more successful season in 2020, finishing with a 6-2 record and a trip to the Music City Bowl. Head coach Kirk Ferentz has built a strong program in Iowa City, and the Hawkeyes will be looking to continue their success this year. Quarterback Spencer Petras will be leading the offense, and he will have a solid group of running backs and receivers to work with.

In terms of predictions for this year’s Black Friday matchup, it’s shaping up to be a close game. Both teams have talented players on both sides of the ball, and it could come down to which team can make the most plays when it matters most. The Cornhuskers will be looking to pull off the upset on the road, while the Hawkeyes will be looking to defend their home turf.

As for the odds, early lines have the Iowa Hawkeyes as slight favorites in this matchup. However, anything can happen in college football, especially in rivalry games like this one. Both teams will be fired up and ready to go, so it should be an exciting game for fans of both programs.

Overall, the Nebraska vs Iowa Black Friday football game is sure to be a must-watch for college football fans. With both teams looking to make a statement in the Big Ten conference, this game could have major implications for their seasons moving forward. Be sure to tune in on Black Friday to see which team comes out on top in this classic rivalry matchup.