Northern Iowa has a pretty good basketball program, but the football team is from the FCS level. The Panthers look for arguably the biggest football win in school history on Saturday when they visit state rival and No. 21 Iowa State. The Cyclones are solidly favored on the NCAAF Odds.
How to Bet Northern Iowa vs Iowa State College Football Week 1 Odds & Game Info
- When: Saturday, August 31st
- Where: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames
- TV: Fox Sports 1
- Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
- Radio: SiriusXM
- College Football Week 1 Odds: Iowa State -18.5 (Total 41.5)
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Series History
This series dates all the way back to 1889. The Cyclones lead the series 22-6-3, but UNI has won two of the last four meetings. They last played in 2017 and ISU won 42-24. UNI’s last win was in 2016.Weather Forecast
- Showers: 19°C/67°F
- Humidity: 81%
- Precipitation: 50%
- Cloud Cover: 90%
- Wind: 11 mph ENE
- Stadium Type: Open
Why Bet on Northern Iowa?
The Panthers are a Missouri Valley Football Conference team that finished 7-6 last year. It lost in the second round of the FCS playoffs to UC Davis, 23-16. Eli Dunne was 22-of-40 passing for 273 yards and threw two interceptions for Northern Iowa.
Trevor Allen ran for 62 yards and a touchdown. Austin Errthum made 3 of 5 field goals. The Panthers’ last two drives ended with a missed field goal, and a turnover on downs at the UC Davis 36.
The Panthers return 16 starters from last year’s team. Including eight on defense and eight on offense. First-Team All-Conference honorees Briley Moore (tight end) and Xavior Williams (defensive back) lead the way for UNI, which is ranked 18th in the FCS.
While UNI lost starting quarterback Eli Dunne, who started 12 games last season and threw for the fourth-most touchdowns in program history, and leading rusher Marcus Weymiller, who totaled nearly 1,000 yards, there is plenty of returning talent. ISU coach Matt Campbell certainly isn’t taking the Panthers lightly.
“One of the things for them is they’ve got a lot of structure back around in their skill positions and really impressed with their skill players on the outside, and at the running back spot they rotated a lot of guys through there so they do have veteran guys coming back at the running back spot, guys that played really well at times for them a year ago,” Campbell said.
UNI coach Mark Farley is just one win away from the 150-win plateau. He is the winningest coach in UNI and Missouri Valley Football History and his next will make him the 10th coach in FCS history with 150 FCS victories.
Team Stats (Offense)
- Points per Game: 16.40
- Passing Yards: 169.70
- Rushing Yards: 153.40
- Turnovers: 1.40
Why Bet on Iowa State?
Iowa State is ranked in the AP preseason poll (#21) for the first time since 1978.
ISU is a Big 12 team that finished 8-5 last year, losing to Washington State 28-26 in the Alamo Bowl. The biggest win for Iowa State in the offseason was holding on to head coach Matt Campbell, who has thrust the program into the national spotlight in three seasons.
From 1979 to 2016, Iowa State had exactly one year with eight or more wins. Campbell won only three games in his first year but now has back-to-back eight-win seasons and the Cyclones’ first two winning seasons in Big 12 play.
Iowa State has all five starters back in the offensive line, and redshirt freshman guard Trevor Downing has been really impressive this preseason. Quarterback Brock Purdy also is back. Last year, he was one of the better true freshmen quarterbacks in the country. He played in 10 games, starting eight with a 6-1 record as a starter vs. conference opponents.
Purdy broke ISU’s single-season mark and ranked 15th nationally in completion percentage (66.4 pct.), connecting on 146-of-220 passes for 2,250 yards (ninth in school history) … tossed 16 touchdown passes, ranking fifth on ISU’s season chart, to just seven interceptions. He also broke the school record for passing efficiency in a season at 169.9, ranking sixth nationally.
On defense, at least four returnees are All-Big 12 material — end JaQuan Bailey, defensive lineman Ray Lima, safety Greg Eisworth and linebacker Marcel Spears Jr. They might have the conference’s best defense and are legitimate contenders to play in the Big 12 title game. In their last 21 games, only five teams have scored more than 24 offensive points (Oklahoma State-2, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Washington State) vs. the Cyclones. Iowa State’s defense hasn’t allowed an offensive point in the fourth quarter in 11 of its last 21 games (79), allowing an average of 3.8 points in the final quarter during that span.
ISU won its final six games at home in 2018 to tie the school record for most home victories in a season. ISU’s current six-game home field winning streak ties for 17th nationally among active FBS streaks and ties for the third-best streak in school history in the modern era: The school mark of seven in a row was accomplished in 1976-77 (3/4) and 2001-02 (1/6).
Team Stats (Offense)
- Points per Game: 24.10
- Passing Yards: 220.50
- Rushing Yards: 126.70
- Turnovers: 1.90
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Northern Iowa vs Iowa State College Football Week 1 Betting Trends
- Panthers are 2-11 SU in their last 13 games on the road
- Panthers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games played on a Saturday
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Northern Iowa’s last 5 games against an opponent in the Big 12 conference
- Cyclones are 6-0 SU in their last 6 games at home
- Cyclones are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games when playing as the favorite
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Iowa State’s last 5 games when playing at home against Northern Iowa
Expert Final Score Prediction for Northern Iowa vs Iowa State
Northern Iowa 7 – Iowa State 28
