Haven’t we seen a headline like this recently?
Well, yes, astute readers — it was just two weeks ago that Iowa and Minnesota played a college football game that closed with a total of 30.5, then the lowest total in college football history.
The game never threatened going over the total with Minnesota winning the game 12-10, despite some controversy on a potential punt return for touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
On Sunday, though, Circa Sportsbook opened the Iowa-Northwestern game with a total of 29.5, which would be the lowest total in college football since they were tracked beginning in 1995. The total had been bet up to 30.5 as of Monday afternoon.
Lowest college football totals since 1995:
Saturday: Iowa-Northwestern (opened 29.5 at @CircaSports, now 30.5)
2023: Iowa-Minnesota (30.5)
2022: Iowa-Minnesota (31.5)
2022: Iowa-Kentucky (32)
2022: Army-Navy (32)
Saturday: Army-Air Force (32)
1995: Arizona-Oregon State (33)— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) October 30, 2023
Iowa is 6-2 on the season, but only 2-6 to the OVER, despite having six of its games involving totals under 38.5 combined points. Iowa has surpassed 26 points just once — a 41-10 Week 3 win over Western Michigan — and held opponents under 17 points in six of its seven games.
Northwestern has had a roller-coaster of a season, which has included a hazing scandal, a 23-20 win over Howard as a 23-point favorite and two outright wins as a double-digit underdog.
What will Saturday’s matchup bring?
We’ll be keeping track of any movement on the total right here over the course of the week, as well as betting action, to see if this indeed sets the record as the lowest total in college football history.