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The Iowa football team has been an anomaly this season. Despite fielding one of the nation’s worst offenses, the Hawkeyes are 10-2 and will play Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Sportsbooks don’t have much faith in the offensive unit’s success against a stout Wolverines defense, and they’re now daring gamblers to back Kirk Ferentz’s group.
To put into perspective just how pedestrian the offense has been, here are a few stats.
Iowa ranks 121st in scoring at just 18 points per game, and dead last in college football in total offense. The Hawkeyes are the only team in the sport to average less 250 yards per game (and < 260 YPG, and < 270 YPG), trailing the next closest offense by nearly 25 yards.
Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz entered the season on the hot seat after a less than stellar 2022 campaign. His contract was revised over the offseason, with amendments added that needed to see his offense score 25 points per game in order to keep his job.
The unit fell severely short those goals (though so, too, did every other Big Ten West team), leading to his midseason resignation.
If the on-field production and pending change at the play caller position weren’t enough to demonstrate how bad the offense has been, further proof lies at the sportsbooks.
Las Vegas has lost complete faith in the Hawkeyes, continuously setting new record lows for Iowa game totals, only to see the UNDERS keep cashing!
Iowa closed its season with a game versus Nebraska in which the point total was set at just 24.5 points… combined. The Hawkeyes won on a walk-off field goal to win, 13-10.
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That’s just who the team is, and those sportsbooks are still trying to find ways to set the bar lower.
Their latest attempt comes in the form of the team’s first- and second-half totals for the B1G Championship Game versus Michigan.
Sportsbooks dare bettors to wager on Iowa first- and second-half totals.
The Big Ten title game will pit a very stoppable force against an immovable object. For as bad as Iowa’s offense has been this season, Michigan’s defense has been equally as good.
The Wolverines rank second in total defense while having surrendered the fewest points in college football.
With that being said, Vegas doesn’t foresee a ton of points being put on the board from a Hawkeyes perspective. In fact, the Over/Under is set at just 35.5 points despite the Wolverines being favored by more than three touchdowns.
Judging by those lines, the books are predicting a final score somewhere in the range of 29-6 in favor of Michigan.
But there are some that might be hesitant to back the Hawkeyes to score even a touchdown. For those bettors, another option is available.
Iowa’s first half team total, over .5, is currently listed at even money. That might be the wildest betting line I’ve ever seen in my life. pic.twitter.com/Q3OD3ihBzr
— Jared Leeper (@jared_leeper) November 28, 2023
You can grab both the first- and second-half Iowa team totals at 0.5 points.
Essentially, if you were to back the Hawkeyes in both totals, you’d be guaranteed to finish around even if Iowa scored just one point against the Wolverines. And if they grab a field goal in each half? Well, you just hit the mother lode.
You almost have to take the OVER! At least it will keep you entertained in a contest that might not see much action on the scoreboard.
The Hawkeyes take on Michigan this Saturday at 8 PM ET. We’ll see if they can give UM a game.