Rivalry Week is overflowing with captivating storylines, and the Heroes Game clash between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Nebraska Cornhuskers stands out, blending fierce on-field animosity with a shared celebration of off-field community impact. There’s no postseason on the line—just pride—but sometimes that’s more than enough to set the stage for a thrilling showdown.
Who comes out on top? Our Nebraska vs. Iowa prediction breaks it all down, covering everything from the latest betting odds to what’s at stake for both teams as they close out the 2024 college football regular season.
Nebraska vs. Iowa Betting Preview
All Nebraska vs. Iowa odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Iowa -3 - Spread
Iowa -3 - Moneyline
Iowa -142, Nebraska +120 - Over/Under
41 points - Game Time
7:30 p.m. ET - Location
Kinnick Stadium | Iowa City, IA - Predicted Weather at Kick
24 degrees, clear, 7 mph winds - How To Watch
NBC
Friday night marks the 55th meeting of the Cornhuskers and Hawkeyes in the Heroes Game. Although Nebraska holds the head-to-head advantage with a 30-21-3 record, Iowa won a tight game in Lincoln last year and has been victorious in all but two of the previous 10 encounters. Kirk Ferentz’s team is favored to secure successive wins in the rivalry as kick-off draws near.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Although they’re favored, the spread line has actually decreased over the course of the week. From Monday to Thursday, it dropped a whole two points, coming to within a half-point of where the CFN FPM spread has sat from the get-go. Both teams are 6-5 against the spread this season, and depending on how the line moves in the next 24 hours, a push could be in play.
Nebraska’s Winning Probability
CFN’s FPM sees little separating these teams, but the Cornhuskers are on the road, making them three-point underdogs against the Hawkeyes. The metrics give them a 41.1% chance to win and clinch a winning season.
- at Iowa: 41.1%
Iowa’s Winning Probability
Iowa’s offense, while certainly not pretty, has been more effective this year than it’s been in a while, but the Hawkeyes are still just 7-4. They’ll look to get one more win Friday and will have a winning probability of 58.9%, per FPM.
- vs. Nebraska: 58.9%
Prediction for Nebraska vs. Iowa
The biggest question I’ve had about Iowa football this season is whether the offense has actually improved or if Kaleb Johnson is just carrying the load.
The numbers are clear: the Hawkeyes are 7-1 when Johnson runs for 100 yards and 0-3 when he doesn’t. In every win, he’s topped 109 yards, but Iowa’s complete lack of a passing game has been a glaring issue against tougher defenses.
Nebraska, on the other hand, has had its own struggles against strong defenses. During their four-game losing streak, the Cornhuskers averaged just 16 points per game, even though their defense held opponents under 30 points in three of those games. It wasn’t so much that Nebraska’s offense got worse—it’s that their defense couldn’t keep opponents to 10 points or less like it did during their first five wins.
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This game is all about defense, but the winner will be the team whose offense can rise to “average” for the day. Honestly, it’s probably a race to 20 points.
If Johnson can get rolling, I like Iowa to grind out a win. But if Nebraska’s stout rushing defense can keep him in check, the Cornhuskers should be able to muster just enough on offense to pull it out.
Ultimately, this game will be decided by mistakes. Dylan Raiola has to protect the football and do enough in the passing game to keep Iowa’s safeties from creeping into the box.
I think Iowa’s defense has a slight edge here, and Johnson’s individual brilliance could be the difference. The Hawkeyes will slow the game down, minimize possessions, and rely on one big play to tilt things in their favor.
In these conditions, take the under—it’s Iowa and Nebraska, after all. The final score is likely to be ugly. So ugly, in fact, that I think Nebraska covers, even in a loss.
Prediction: Iowa 17, Nebraska 14
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