Big Ten title game could be all-time ugly

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Do Kirk Ferentz and Iowa have a shot against Michigan? (Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) (Steven Branscombe via Getty Images)

 

In what is the most anticipated title game of the year from a certain perspective, the Michigan Wolverines are three-touchdown favorites against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Like a broken record, I say these totals can’t be low enough for Iowa games. The Big Ten championship game is currently lined at 35.5. Due to the 23-point spread and the low total of 35.5, Vegas is giving Iowa a 7.4% of winning this game, which is higher than the total points expected for the Hawkeyes (6.5).

Low-scoring season

During the 2023 season, there have been eight games below the 35.5 mark. Seven of those have gone under the total; Iowa was in five of those matchups, including the lowest total in college football history, 26.5 last week in a 13-10 win over Nebraska.

The Hawkeyes are now 10-2 to the under this year. A few of the other lowest-scoring games include:

Iowa vs. Rutgers, 27.5. Result: Iowa wins 22-0.

Iowa vs. Northwestern, 30.5. Result: Iowa wins 10-7.

Iowa vs. Minnesota, 30.5. Result: Minnesota wins 12-10.

If this game total sticks, the matchup between Michigan and Iowa will be the lowest in conference championship game history. The next closest was in 2015 between Alabama and Florida. The total closed at 38 and the Crimson Tide won, 29-15.

Iowa’s offensive improvements

With Deacon Hill under center, the Hawkeyes are graded as the 129th offense in the FBS, ahead of just Arizona State, East Carolina, Nevada, and Akron. Hill now has three straight games throwing 28 or more attempts. The effort is there. Unfortunately, the efficiency hasn’t quite followed, with Hill completing 39% of his passes with zero touchdowns against the Cornhuskers last week. The two weeks prior, however, Hill had his two best games, throwing…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football-big-ten-title-game-could-be-all-time-ugly-205649883.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2023-11-28 20:56:49

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