The Northern Iowa Panthers and the Iowa State Cyclones play their first game of the 2021 NCAA football season this Saturday at the Jack Trice Stadium. Northern Iowa finished their spring run with a 3-4 record, ending up in the middle of the Missouri Valley Conference Standings. This time around, Mark Farley and company will try to bring more spark to the program with new offensive coordinator Shawn Watson.

Meanwhile, the Cyclones concluded their previous campaign with a 9-3 record and holds the best conference record in the Big 12. Despite facing several challenges in 2020, they are ready to take on Week 1 of college football with their heads up high.

As both teams gear up for their opener, Nitrobetting takes a good look at the teams, key players, timely betting trends, and expert betting predictions, all of which aim to bring you closer to winning predictions. Be on the lookout for the latest 2021 College Football odds at out online Bitcoin sportsbook.

Northern Iowa Panthers vs. Iowa State Cyclones Game Information

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— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB) August 30, 2021

• When: Saturday, September 4, 2021, 3:30 PM ET
• Where: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa
• TV: ABC
• Radio: 1540 KXEL AM (Northern Iowa) / KSIB 1520 AM (Iowa State)
• Live Stream: CBS Sports
• College Football Odds: Northern Iowa (TBA) / Iowa State (TBA)

Why Bet on the Northern Iowa Panthers?

Northern Iowa had a respectable 2020 run, ending with a 10-5 overall record. They were able to make a postseason appearance in the Football Championship Subdivision but failed to get past the quarterfinals. Many of the key players who had significant contributions to the team return to the lineup today, starting with Will McElvain. In 2020, the quarterback documented 2,778 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. While he gives the team plenty of offensive prowess, Northern Iowa’s defense gets most of our attention. If the defensive unit can offer consistency against the Cyclones, there’s a good chance that they hold off their opponents at their home field.

During the 2020 season, the Panthers allowed just 15.0 points per game and 285.0 total yards per contest. Despite the team not having as much raw talent as any of the top-tier teams, they display solid chemistry that makes them great as a whole. Ultimately, Northern Iowa stands a good chance against Iowa State if everything within the team links up. We look forward to the defense firing on all cylinders, with crucial players making their way back to the lineup.

Why Bet on the Iowa State Cyclones?

Looking over Iowa State, we saw the team face several challenges in 2020. The team finished with a 9-3 overall record and an 8-1 conference record that propelled the team at the top of the standings. However, the Cyclones gave up a narrow 27-21 loss against Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game. This season, the team tries to work its way to the top and get a deep postseason run underway. So far, head coach Matt Campbell is on the right track and gets a chance to build momentum before things start to get heated. Nonetheless, don’t expect the Cyclones to hold back against Northern Iowa.

Over 20 starters return to action following a win at the Fiesta Bowl over the Oregon Ducks. The list includes quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Breece Hall, both of which are instrumental components of their passing and rushing attacks in 2020. Hall led the Big 12 with 1,572 rushing yards and 21 rushing scores. Considering the condition of the Panthers’ offense, don’t expect Northern Iowa to have the firepower to outlast Iowa State in an offensive showdown. Last season, Iowa State ranked 31st in the nation with 32.9 points per game and 38th with 195.0 rushing yards per game.

Northern Iowa vs. Iowa State Betting Trends

• Northern Iowa is 5-15 in its last 20 games.
• Northern Iowa is 2-4 against the spread in its last 6 games.
• The totals have gone over in 5 of Northern Iowa’s last 7 games.
• Iowa State is 5-0 in its last 5 home games.
• Iowa State is 4-1 against the spread in its last 5 home games.
• The totals have gone under in 2 of Iowa State’s last 5 home games.

Northern Iowa vs. Iowa State Expert Betting Predictions

With home-field advantage and a better-looking record in the past few months, Iowa State gets the upper hand in this contest. The Cyclones’ offense faced several challenges last year, but eventually gained traction to showcase a well-balanced group. Ten starters return to the group, and quarterback Brock Purdy remains in tip-top shape. As for Northern Iowa, they boast a consistent group of offensive linemen but anticipate their defense to do the talking this weekend. If they stay composed throughout the game, covering the spread shouldn’t be much of an issue for Matt Campbell and his team.

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