NIU at Iowa College Football Picks and Predictions 9/1/2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Kinnick Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The NIU Huskies head to Kinnick Stadium to play the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday, September 1, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Iowa as 13 point favorites. The Huskies were 6-7-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 7-6-0. The Hawkeyes were 6-6-1 against the spread and their over/under mark was 6-7-0.

Valuable NIU Huskies Betting Trends

The NIU Huskies were 7-6-0 against the over/under last season

The NIU Huskies were 6-7-0 against the spread last year

Important Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Trends

The Iowa Hawkeyes were 6-7-0 against the over/under last season

The Iowa Hawkeyes were 6-6-1 against the spread last year

Key NIU Huskies Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Iowa Hawkeyes Injuries

08/08/18 DE Cedrick Lattimore Suspension is OUT Saturday vs No Illinois
07/31/18 OL Tristan Wirfs Suspension is OUT Saturday vs No Illinois (1-game suspension)
07/26/18 DE Matt Nelson Shoulder is upgraded to probable Saturday vs No Illinois
07/24/18 OL Landan Paulsen Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs No Illinois
07/23/18 DL Brady Reiff Suspension is downgraded to OUT Saturday vs No Illinois
06/25/18 DL Parker Hesse Foot is probable Saturday vs No Illinois

Useful Offensive Statistics

The NIU Huskies were 59th in the country in points scored with 376 last season. They ran 957 plays last year for 4,937 yards, which ranked them 85th in Division 1 in total offense. The Huskies averaged 5.2 yards per play, which was 104th in the nation. As a team they accumulated a total of 264 1st downs last season, ranking them 61st overall as an offensive unit. On the ground NIU ran for 2,337 yards, which ranked 45th in college football. They ran 553 times, averaging 4.2 yards per rush as a unit. The Huskies were penalized on offense 81 times for 722 yards last year, which had them 52nd in the country in penalties. Marcus Childers passed for 1,674 yards last year. He completed 152 throws while attempting 265 passes for a completion percentage of 57.4%. His quarterback rating last season was 126.6. He averaged 6.7 adjusted yards per throw and 6.3 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

NIU was 37th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 286 last year. They gave up a total of 4,401 yards on D, which was 25th in D-1. The Huskies were 7th in yards per play allowed with 4.6. Opponent offenses completed 242 throws on 426 attempts against the NIU Huskies defense last season, ranking them 80th and 89th in the nation. The NIU pass defense also surrendered a total of 2,841 yards in the air, which was 67th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 527 attempts for 1,560 yards last season, putting them in 16th place in the country against the run. The Huskies had 78 penalties for 807 yards on defense last year. That placed them 111th in college football.

Special Teams Stats

NIU was 7th in the country in punt returns with 31 last season. They totaled 130 punt return yards and averaged 4.2 yards per return, which was 116th in D-1. They returned 40 kicks for 852 yards on special teams, which put them 50th in kick return yardage. The Huskies averaged 21 yards per kick return and they were 66th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 5,919. The NIU Huskies tried 16 field goals last year and made 9, which was 114th in college football. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 56%. NIU Huskies kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 49 for 49 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,475 yards on 85 punts, averaging 41 yards per punt. That ranked them 75th in the NCAA in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Hawkeyes ran for 1,810 yards as a team last year, which ranked 90th in college football. They ran 481 times, averaging 3.8 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Iowa Hawkeyes were penalized on offense 66 times for 534 yards last season, which had them 95th in the country in penalties. They were 62nd in the nation in points scored with 367. They ran 836 plays last season for 4,278 yards, which ranked them 93rd in Division 1 in total offense. Iowa averaged 5.1 yards per play, which was 110th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 226 1st downs last year, placing them 106th overall as an offensive unit. Nathan Stanley averaged 6.9 yards per pass attempt and 7.6 adjusted yards per throw last season. He completed 196 passes on 351 attempts for a completion percentage of 55.8%. His quarterback rating last year was 135.1. He threw for 2,432 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Iowa Hawkeyes rush defense allowed 455 attempts for 1,880 yards last year, putting them in 44th place in D-1 against the run. Iowa committed 79 penalties for 711 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 80th in college football. They were 14th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 259. They surrendered a total of 4,648 yards on D, which was 39th in the country. The Hawkeyes were ranked 27th in yards per play allowed with 5.1. Opposing offenses completed 257 passes on 459 attempts against the Iowa defense last season, placing them 96th and 112th in Division 1. The Iowa Hawkeyes pass defense also gave up a total of 2,766 yards through the air, which was 58th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Iowa Hawkeyes attempted 13 field goals last season and made 10, which was 96th in D-1. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 85%. Hawkeyes kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 44 for 44 last year. Their punters totaled 2,740 yards on 72 punts, averaging 39 yards per punt. That placed them 119th in Division 1 in punting average. Iowa was ranked 52nd in the nation in punt returns with 20 last year. They accumulated 124 punt return yards and averaged 6.2 yards per return, which was 85th in college football. They returned 34 kicks for 831 yards on special teams, ranking 52nd in kick return yardage. The Iowa Hawkeyes averaged 24 yards per kick return and they were 105th in the country in all-purpose yards with 5,233.

Who will win tonight's Huskies/Hawkeyes college football game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Huskies +13

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