Iowa vs Nebraska point spread: Picking Hawkeyes vs Cornhuskers

Week 13 Picks: Iowa at Nebraska | Andy Staples | 11.20.23

This week, to help him make picks on the Week 13 slate of college football action on the Andy Staples On3 Podcast, Staples brought in fellow college football expert Jake Crain. The two discussed the line for a number of games, including the likely Big Ten barn burner with a possibly historic line between Nebraska and Iowa.

How to watch Iowa vs. Nebraska

Time/Date: 11 A.M. CT/ Nov. 24
Channel: CBS, FuboTV
Location: Lincoln, NE

“It’s sad that the over-under is 27.5, and I’m a defensive guy; I always have been,” said Crain. “I love a good rock fight. But you know what’s worse? I love the under. To be honest with you, I don’t know if they’re gonna score more than 1.5. I mean, if there’s any way that a game could end 1-0, they would find a way in this game.

“But I’ll say this: the biggest thing that Matt Rhule is having to change right now is that he’s having to teach them how to win. They’ve won some games, but they found ways to lose games earlier in the year. It seems like they struggle to find a way to win. And Iowa, they find ways to win, and last week it’s a great example of it. Right now, I’ve still got to lean Iowa. I like them on the money line because whether it’s 1-0, 7-6, (or) 9.2-4.7. I think Iowa knows how to win, and Nebraska is learning it.”

Iowa and Nebraska have been practically polar opposites this season when it comes to close games. As Crain points out, a large part of that has to do with how far along each program is.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule is in year one and is attempting to establish his culture and a winning mindset among the Cornhusker players. Iowa, on the other hand, has been led by Kirk Ferentz for 20-plus seasons. And the Iowa headman has done an excellent job installing his culture and a winning mentality throughout the program, which is why the Hawkeyes sit atop the Big Ten West despite their own offensive struggles.

At the beginning of this segment, Staples highlighted that the over-under for this game, 27.5, could be a historic low. With the circumstances surrounding both programs right now, the On3 college football expert would lean toward Nebraska winning and becoming bowl-eligible. However, the Cornhuskers’ struggle to score at times this season gives him pause.

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“So here’s my thing on this: I’d probably take Nebraska because of the motivation factor,” said Staples. “They need to make a bowl game. Iowa’s already in the Big Ten Championship game. Iowa was emotional; they lost Cooper DeJean last week in the middle of the week. I thought maybe they’re due for a little lapse here, but I need some points for Nebraska. If I don’t get any points, I got a problem with that. So, I will take Iowa to cover in this game. I don’t know where the scoring is, but I will take the under here because it’s going to be hideous.”