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Iowa Football Opens as Home Favorite Over Nebraska in Black Friday Matchup

The Huskers will play the underdog role as the Iowa Hawkeyes opened as 4½-point favorites in the nighttime contest at Kinnick Stadium.

Austin Jacobsen

Nov 23, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers cheerleaders carry flags across the field after a score against the Wisconsin Badgers during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium.
Nov 23, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers cheerleaders carry flags across the field after a score against the Wisconsin Badgers during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
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Nebraska football will have one more mountain to climb before entering its first postseason since 2016.

The Huskers (6-5, 3-5 B1G) have opened as 4½-point underdogs in their regular-season finale at Iowa. The Hawkeyes (7-4, 5-3 B1G) maintained that line overnight, with over/under total set at 39½ points for the contest. The total moved up two points on Sunday, beginning at 37½ late Saturday night.

Nebraska is coming off a stellar 44-25 home win against Wisconsin on Saturday, while Iowa handled Maryland 29-13 on the road. Both teams have secured bowl eligibility and look to contend for a potential New Year's Day game.

Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kamari Moulton (28) runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins
Nov 23, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kamari Moulton (28) runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

The yearly tradition of the Black Friday matchup will be the 55th all-time meeting between the two schools, and it will be the first night kickoff for the two teams since Nebraska joined the Big Ten Conference. Nebraska leads the series 30-21-3, although the Hawkeyes have taken the Heroes Trophy home in nine of the teams' 13 matchups as Big Ten rivals.

The Huskers won in their most recent visit to Iowa City in 2022 but fell 13-10 at Memorial Stadium last year, keeping Nebraska from going to a bowl game in coach Matt Rhule's first season.

On the season, Nebraska is 6-2 against the spread when favored and 1-2 as underdogs. The Huskers and their opponents have failed to cover the over four times this season, but Nebraska covered the total on its own against Wisconsin Saturday, scoring 44 points on the 43½ betting line.

Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) throws against the Wisconsin Badgers
Nov 23, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola throws against the Wisconsin Badgers during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Nebraska has been an underdog three times this season, having lost all three times, at Indiana, Ohio State and USC. The Huskers were a 6½-point underdog to the Hoosiers, a three-touchdown dog to Ohio State and a 9½-point underdog to the Trojans

The Huskers and Hawkeyes will face off Friday, Nov. 29, in Iowa City with kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CST.

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MORE: Analytics Review: Nebraska Football vs. Wisconsin

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Austin Jacobsen
AUSTIN JACOBSEN

Austin Jacobsen is a radio broadcaster and former Sports Director in Central Nebraska. He has seen the Cornhusker state from all corners; growing up in the Panhandle, completing his college degree in Kearney, working in the rural Sandhills, and now residing in Omaha. Austin is a statewide, regional, and national radio award winner and can usually be found at a high school football field on Friday nights and tuning in to the Huskers wherever they travel. If he is not on the road, Austin enjoys movie dates with his girlfriend and their dog, Ava.

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