The Iowa Hawkeyes are set to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers this weekend. Check out our college football odds series, which includes our Iowa-Nebraska prediction, odds, and pick.

The Iowa Hawkeyes defeated Penn State several weeks ago in a matchup of teams ranked in the top five at the time. Iowa rose to No. 2 in the national rankings, and it seemed that Iowa was on the verge of the “once every five or six years” breakthrough season under veteran coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa had enjoyed big seasons in 2002, and 2009, and 2015, making prestigious January bowls each season. Iowa won the Orange Bowl in the 2009 campaign and made the Big Ten Championship Game and the Rose Bowl in the 2015 season. Ferentz was on pace to do something special again in Iowa City. A buzz filled Kinnick Stadium and optimism reigned.

Then reality set in.

Iowa's quality defense was abandoned by a weak and sputtering offense. The Hawkeyes were brutally unfortunate to have a great defense squandered by deficient quarterback play. They were smothered at home by Purdue. Then they lost to Wisconsin, losing the inside track to the Big Ten West Division championship. They can still finish 10-2 with a win, but the hopes for a historic season slipped away. The people who follow college football odds each week are aware of this.

Nebraska has endured a remarkable season. The Huskers are 3-8, and yet they have not played terrible football. They just haven't played well enough to beat the teams on their schedule. Nebraska plays a lot of good football in each game it plays, but it is horrible precisely when it can't afford to be. That's the annoying, infuriating reality of the Scott Frost era, a part of why people have a clear line of thought when considering an Iowa Nebraska pick.

Nebraska has not lost a single game this season by 10 or more points. The most lopsided loss was a nine-point defeat to Ohio State in which Nebraska had a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter. That nine-point loss to Ohio State remains the only game Nebraska has lost by more than a one-score margin this season. All the other losses were by one score (eight points or fewer). Is Nebraska on the verge of turning the corner? People will debate that point, but there cannot be any debate that Scott Frost has utterly failed to win a majority of ballgames in Lincoln. The Huskers desperately need to end their season with a result which changes the mood in and around the program.

Here’s how the bookmakers have set the odds:

College Football odds: Iowa-Nebraska Odds

Iowa: +1 (-105)

Nebraska: -1 (-115)

Over: 41.5 (+100)

Under: 41.5 (-122)

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Why Iowa Could Cover the Spread

Nebraska's starting quarterback, Adrian Martinez, is out with an injury. That should limit what the Huskers are able to do on offense. It's not as though Nebraska had a dynamic offense with Martinez on the field, but without his speed and mobility, the offense could be even more limited.

Why Nebraska Could Cover the Spread

The Iowa offense has been a drag on the Hawkeyes' production and overall quality for most of the season. Nebraska's defense has the capacity to win this game in spite of the Husker offense's limitations.

Final Iowa-Nebraska Prediction & Pick

Iowa and Nebraska have strong defenses. Nebraska's quarterback is hurt. Iowa's quarterback isn't very good. This is an under game if there ever was one.

Final Iowa-Nebraska Pick: Under 41.5