The Nebraska Cornhuskers will play for their first Big Ten Legends Division championship Friday when they travel to Iowa City to face the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Nebraska vs. Iowa 2012 previews, TV schedule, odds: Rose Bowl shot at stake
The Cornhuskers stamp their ticket to the Big Ten Championship with a win Friday. Follow @SBNationCFB
Eric Francis
Nebraska is 9-2 on the season and 6-1 in the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers are tied with Michigan atop the Legends Division and hold the tiebreaker by virtue of a win over the Wolverines. Either a Cornhusker win or Michigan loss to Ohio State Saturday would send Nebraska to the Big Ten Championship Game.
Quarterback Taylor Martinez is having his best season as a Husker, throwing for 2420 yards and 21 touchdowns, but the Husker offense is still predicated on the run. Nebraska ranks eighth nationally in rushing offense, and halfback Ameer Abdullah has run for 1021 yards and eight scores.
Iowa has not won since an October 13 victory over Michigan State. The Hawkeyes are currently 4-7 on the year, 2-5 in the Big Ten, and mired in the program’s worst losing streak since 2001. The Iowa offense has been problematic throughout the season; the Hawkeyes are ranked 107th nationally in scoring offense, 110th in total offense, 100th in passing yardage and 103rd in rushing yardage. Through the first half of the season, the Hawkeye defense was able to keep Iowa competitive despite their offensive woes, but the defense has given way in recent weeks. Last week, Iowa allowed Michigan 513 yards in total offense in a 42-17 loss. It marked the fifth consecutive week the Hawkeyes allowed an opponent to record more than 425 yards of total offense.
Game time, TV channel: Noon ET, ABC
Point spread: Nebraska is favored by 15 points.
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