Northwestern at Iowa College Football Odds

Written November 3, 2009 by Rock Henderson

The Iowa Hawkeyes continue to live on the edge through nine games as they trailed 21-7 at half against Indiana last weekend only to come roaring back in the 4th quarter to win 42-24. Iowa dropped a spot in the AP poll to 8th, but still are ranked 4th in the ever important BCS rankings. The Hawks will welcome a pesky Northwestern Wildcat team to Kinnick Stadium this Saturday. Iowa will look to avenge a home loss to the Wildcats a year ago and run their record to a perfect 10-0. This week’s college football odds have the Hawks listed as a 16.5 point favorite.

Northwestern has had an up and down year to say the least. Sporting a 5-4 record and needing one more win in the last three games to become bowl eligible, the Cardiac Cats have struggled to build any type of momentum this season. They are led by senior dual threat QB Mike Kafka and his 15 total touchdowns. Kafka was injured in the Penn State game with an apparent hamstring injury and did not return in the second half. If he is unable to go, junior Dan Persa will get the start. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald feels comfortable with Persa under center, but he doesn’t have near the game experience of Kafka. In two quarters against the Nittany Lions, Persa passed for 115 yards and ran for another 42, but failed to get the Cats in the end zone. WR Zeke Markshausen will be the main target in the passing game once again, as he has caught 67 balls this year for over 600 yards. Northwestern’s defense was considered to be a strength coming into the season, but they have not performed up to their capability and are giving up almost 25 ppg. Sign up now for a new account at Bookmaker and get a 20% deposit bonus that you can use to bet on college football.

Don’t let the final score against Indiana fool you, Iowa was not 18 points better than the Hoosiers last weekend. QB Ricky Stanzi managed to throw two long touchdown passes in the final stanza, but tossed five interceptions in the first three quarters to bring out the boo birds from an antsy Iowa crowd. Stanzi has thrown 14 touchdown passes this year but his 13 interceptions is a cause for concern as Iowa is not good enough to turn the ball multiple times and win consistently. The running back position for the Hawks has been hit hard with injuries as their leading rusher Adam Robinson is done until the bowl game. Freshman Brandon Wegher stepped in nicely against a suspect Indiana defense as he rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start. Wegher showed that he can carry the load in the backfield as he got the rock 25 times. The Iowa defense has been solid all year and is considered one of the top units in the nation. Blessed with a dynamic front four that can get after the quarterback with having to blitz, Iowa drops seven into coverage the majority of the time to take away passing lanes.

Northwestern seems to always give the Hawkeyes fits. The Wildcats have won three of the last four meetings including a 22-17 win a year ago as Iowa turned the ball over five times. If you got this number when it opened it was a gift. Anything above two touchdowns in this game you have to take the points. Play: Northwestern +16.5

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