Iowa at Northwestern Week 10 College Football Matchup Iowa at Northwestern Matchup - Week 10
Sat, Nov 6 2021 · Week 10 · 🏟 Ryan Field Evanston, IL · Turf · 47,130 cap
Iowa✈ 200 miSame TZ
Away
17 12
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Iowa
31
Northwestern
11
P&R Line Iowa -20
P&R Total O/U 42
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Iowa -11.5 · O/U 40.5
Matchup Prediction
Iowa has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Iowa entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
Iowa wins
Lean
Game Control
75.9%
Iowa wins
Solid
Vegas Spread
Iowa -11.5
O/U 40.5
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Iowa · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Northwestern 2nd straight Home Game 🚌 Iowa 2nd straight Road Game
Iowa 2021 Schedule
Iowa's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Iowa vs Indiana-3.5W34–645.5W34–6UY
Sat 9/11Iowa at Iowa State+4.0W27–1745.0W27–17UY
Sat 9/18Iowa vs Kent State-22.0W30–755.5W30–7UY
Sat 9/25Iowa vs Colorado State-24.0W24–1443.5W24–14UN
Fri 10/1Iowa at Maryland-3.0W51–1447.5W51–14OY
Sat 10/9Iowa vs Penn State-2.5W23–2041.0W23–20OY
Sat 10/16Iowa vs Purdue-11.0L7–2442.5L7–24UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/30Iowa at Wisconsin+3.0L7–2735.5L7–27UN
Sat 11/6Iowa at Northwestern-11.5W17–1240.5W17–12UN
Sat 11/13Iowa vs Minnesota-4.0W27–2237.5W27–22OY
Sat 11/20Iowa vs Illinois-12.0W33–2337.5W33–23ON
Fri 11/26Iowa at Nebraska+1.5W28–2141.0W28–21OY
Sat 12/4Iowa vs Michigan+12.0L3–4243.5L3–42ON
Sat 1/1Iowa vs Kentucky+3.0L17–2043.5L17–20UY
Northwestern 2021 Schedule
Northwestern's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Fri 9/3Northwestern vs Michigan State-3.0L21–3845.5L21–38ON
Sat 9/11Northwestern vs Indiana State-28.5W24–646.0W24–6UN
Sat 9/18Northwestern at Duke-2.5L23–3050.0L23–30ON
Sat 9/25Northwestern vs Ohio-13.5W35–647.5W35–6UY
Sat 10/2Northwestern at Nebraska+11.0L7–5651.5L7–56ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/16Northwestern vs Rutgers+2.5W21–745.0W21–7UY
Sat 10/23Northwestern at Michigan+23.5L7–3351.5L7–33UN
Sat 10/30Northwestern vs Minnesota+7.5L14–4143.5L14–41ON
Sat 11/6Northwestern vs Iowa+11.5L12–1740.5L12–17UY
Sat 11/13Northwestern at Wisconsin+26.0L7–3541.5L7–35ON
Sat 11/20Northwestern vs Purdue+11.0L14–3247.5L14–32UN
Sat 11/27Northwestern at Illinois+7.0L14–4745.0L14–47ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
Iowa PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Iowa
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Iowa
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Iowa
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Iowa
+0.355
Northwestern
+0.201
Iowa Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Iowa
+0.312
Northwestern
+0.289
Iowa Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Iowa
0.159
Northwestern
0.120
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Iowa Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Iowa
+7.284
Northwestern
+6.872
Iowa Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Iowa
+0.837
Northwestern
+0.760
Iowa Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Iowa
66.6
Northwestern
73.3
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Iowa Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Iowa Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Iowa
11.5
Northwestern
-0.6
Offense Rating
Iowa
18.6
Northwestern
16.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Iowa
7.1
Northwestern
16.6
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Iowa Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Iowa #51
1.13
Northwestern #133
0.43
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Iowa #35
0.38
Northwestern #137
1.43
Iowa +0.70
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 7 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Iowa Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Iowa #1
57.2
Northwestern #1
34.6
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Iowa #51
30.1
Northwestern #121
60.6
Iowa +22.6
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 75.9% of games historically
Based on 8 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Iowa with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Iowa
Kirk Ferentz #1
171–106 (62%) · Yr 23 at school
OC Brian Ferentz Yr 1 #1
DC Phil Parker Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Northwestern
Pat Fitzgerald #1
107–83 (56%) · Yr 16 at school
OC Mike Bajakian Yr 1 #1
DC Jim O'Neil Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: CSS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: GS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself