Iowa-Northwestern odds: How to bet record-low total of 30.5

The Iowa Hawkeyes and Northwestern Wildcats could very well be a part of sports betting history by the time they kick off from Wrigley Field on Saturday afternoon. Earlier this week, the Big Ten West clash opened up with an over/under of 29.5 total points at most major sportsbooks around the country.

It has since jumped to 30.5 at Caesars Sportsbook, the official odds partner of Bet.NOLA.com. If the current line holds, it would make sports betting history as the lowest college football total ever recorded.

The Hawkeyes are no strangers to low totals this season. Three of their games this season have closed with lines under 35 total points. Iowa's only game to have an over/under total above 40 was its matchup against Western Michigan (O/U 43.5).

The Hawkeyes' last game versus Minnesota tied the record for lowest over/under in modern-day sports betting history when it closed at 31.5 total points. Iowa has played two other games in the last two seasons with lines of 31.5: Kentucky and Minnesota (both in 2022).

If you're trying to figure out how to play games with such low point totals, the trends are telling. All three of the aforementioned games within the last two years have gone under with scores of 12-10, 21-0 and 13-10.

Brian Ferentz  — who will reportedly not return as the program's offensive coordinator in 2024 — has been at the center of the Hawkeyes' offensive struggles.

Iowa has averaged just 19.5 points per game this season (118th nationally), and that total has gone down since former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara suffered a season-ending injury. The Hawkeyes are last in the country for average yards with 232.4 per game.

Northwestern's offense isn't anything to write home about either. Even though the Wildcats put up 33 points in their last outing against Maryland, they still rank 105th in the country with 21.8 points per game.

Iowa vs. Northwestern kicks off at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday from Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Big Ten West bout will be broadcast on Peacock.