Iowa playing spoiler among CBS Sports’ boldest 2024 Big Ten football predictions

The new era of the Big Ten is about to get underway and no one can know what it will entail. There are now 18 teams playing in the conference, college football now has a 12-team playoff, and there are new faces everywhere.

Despite all the change, one constant is the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Nebraska Cornhuskers meeting up on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, to play their rivalry game for all of the nation to see.

The Hawkeyes and the Cornhuskers are among some of the most popular sleeper picks to potentially sneak into the newly expanded College Football Playoff and if things shake out the right way, their matchup could have a lot riding on it.

CBS Sports has this matchup and the result among their boldest predictions for the Big Ten in 2024.

Bold predictions:

Dennis Dodd: A Black Friday loss at Iowa keeps Nebraska out of the playoff after a 6-1 start. The Huskers go into the finale at 8-3 with a ninth win putting the Huskers in the CFP discussion. Matt Rhule is Big Ten Coach of the Year and the Huskers go bowling for the first time in eight years. – CBS Sports

In this prediction, the Hawkeyes get to not only notch a rivalry victory to cap off their regular season, they also get to spoil any chances that the Nebraska Cornhuskers might have at the College Football Playoff.

Like last year’s game that came down to a field goal, this year is expected to be just as close. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Hawkeyes a slight edge with a preseason win probability of 59.8%.

Not mentioned, but also plausible, is what this game could mean to the Hawkeyes. Could a spot in the College Football Playoff be on the line inside Kinnick Stadium when this games gets underway?

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