The last time the Des Moines Register took interest in college football was in the mid-1980s. Back then, it was mainly about the Iowa Hawkeyes.
A generation later, the Iowa Hawkeyes are still the flagship team of the Register and its sports sections. But the newspaper has branched out and delves into competitive athletics more so these days. And one of the biggest betting lines in the Register these days is about the upcoming rivalry game between Iowa and visiting Nebraska.
It’s difficult to put into words just how much the rivalry between the Cornhuskers and Hawkeyes has grown in the last 30 years. As much as coaches, players, and fans of both teams value the games, the stakes seem to have gotten higher. The last few years, in fact, have seen a couple of controversial endings and a lot of big bets made on the outcome.
What Is The O/U Ratio?
You might be familiar with the term “OU (over/under)” when it comes to NBA games. That stands for the “over/under” odds, which is basically the odds that the team will score more points than the opposite team. Similarly, in college football, the Over/Under (O/U) Line is usually used to predict the outcome of a game. For instance, the O/U Line for the Nebraska vs. Iowa game this year is +120, meaning if you bet $100 on Nebraska, you would win $120 if the Cornhuskers win.
In general, if the line moves in one direction, it means the public feels more confident that the home team will win. If the line moves in the opposite direction, it means the public feels more confident that the away team will win. When the line is flat, it indicates there’s no advantage either way.
The History Of The Nebraska Vs. Iowa Rivalry
While the University of Iowa is the flagship school of the state of Iowa, it wasn’t always the case. Prior to 1949, the university didn’t even have a football team. So when the Cornhuskers, under head coach Bob Devaney, decided to start playing football, they had to build a program from the ground up. As a result, the rivalry between the Cornhuskers and Iowa grew over the course of the next several years.
In 1949, Iowa joined the Border War Conference, which was made up of teams from western states, and played its first game against Nebraska that year. Since that time, every year except one has been a winner-take-all affair. That is, the winner of the game gets to keep the trophy and the loser has to wait until next year to play again.
Why Are The Cornhuskers Visiting The White House?
Quietly visiting the White House this week might not seem like much to anyone but football fans. After all, the Cornhuskers have been coming to Washington for a couple of decades now for their annual “Blue and White” game. However, this year is different. The game is on the President’s Day weekend, which means a lot more people will witness it. Additionally, since 2016 is an election year, there will likely be a high voter turnout.
The visit from the Cornhuskers is actually part of a highly-orchestrated public relations campaign. For years, the university had a policy of not interacting with the media or the public. In 2016, the university reversed course and decided to embrace the limelight, especially since it means so much to the state of Nebraska and the school itself. They are trying to end the 20-year drought in the White House for their team. Let’s hope it pays off for them.
Pro Comparison: The Main Benefits Of Online Gambling
If you’re looking for a safe and secure place to place your bets for the upcoming Nebraska vs. Iowa game, you’re in luck. There are several reputable online sportsbooks where you can make wagers and enjoy the perks that come with being a member. Here are some of the main benefits of betting online:
The Confidence That Comes With Supporting A Valued Team
One of the biggest pluses of gambling online is that you’re not risking anything. If you’ve never bet on sports, you might not comprehend the confidence that comes with backing a popular team. For instance, if you’re a Florida Gators fan and you find a reputable online sportsbook that also accepts bets from California, you can place a bet on the Gators and feel confident that you’re supporting a team that’s going to win. In general, if you’re betting on the favorite, you’re going to win most of the time. And that, in and of itself, is worth the gamble.
More Than Meets The Eye
In most cases, when you place a bet on a sporting event, you’re expecting to win money. However, there’s more than one kind of winning when it comes to sports betting. For instance, if you bet on the Super Bowl and the Patriots win, you actually made money, but you didn’t win because you supported the underdog. On the other hand, if you bet on the underdog and win, you made money but you didn’t win because the team you bet on was rated the favorite. It’s all about perception and how you choose to look at things. If you’re not familiar with the concept, think of it like this: you support a team and, as a result, they win. Now you’re going to tell everyone you know that you backed them because they’re good. It doesn’t get much more complicated than that. You might even convince yourself that, with some luck, you can become a millionaire from betting on sports.
No Worries About Finding Places To Eat
One of the things that gets aggravating about having to go into a sports bar to eat before a game, or in the case of NCAAF, after the game, is the anxiety that you have about finding a place to sit down. No matter how many times you do it, you never seem to get the hang of it. The last thing you need is to be scrambling for a seat in a cramped bar or restaurant, which is why it’s best to order food beforehand. However, if you’re in the mood for something more unique and don’t want to eat at a conventional place, you can get takeout and sit in your car. After all, if you’re in a safe place, with no traffic and no people around, why not explore the possibility of some insider information? You might even get a feel for how the team is performing and make some money soon enough.
More Than Meets The Eye
One of the perks of online betting is that you can do it from the comforts of your home. This is especially beneficial for college students and people with busy schedules. If you’re going to be doing your best to get your money across the country by using a wire service, you might not want to do it on an empty stomach. It’s always better to be a little hungry when you’re doing something like this.
Avoid The Stress And Anxiety Of Gathering With Friends
It’s one thing to head to the sports bar after work to watch the game and have a few drinks with your friends. But it’s a completely different story when you’re going to a bar to watch a football game and feel the need to bring along your buddies just to make sure you can all find seats. That kind of stress and anxiety can ruin your evening. You might even find yourself rooting for one of the teams just so you can avoid the hassle. It’s certainly a better idea to order food and make a night of it. Your friends can meet up with you at your place after the game, when everything has relaxed a bit. Then you can have a good laugh about it and move on with your lives.
Pro Comparison: The Main Benefits Of Betting Online
If you enjoy rooting for the home team and backing them to succeed, you might want to consider betting online. It’s easy to do and there’s no risk of over or underbetting. Plus, there’s the added bonus of supporting a team that you believe in.