Can Iowa Hit Brian Ferentz’s 25 PPG Threshold In 2023?

Whoever said that nepotism doesn’t work must not have been an Iowa Hawkeyes fan, as the Big 10 stalwart grinds its way towards another above-.500 season despite ranking 107th nationally in scoring offense.

There’s been much ado among Hawkeyes fans and Iowa sports betting enthusiasts about offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, the son of longtime head coach Kirk Ferentz. After an anemic offensive season in 2022, the OC is back. However, his contract was amended to include performance-based clauses. Ferentz’s pay was lowered from $900,000 to $850,000 in a one-year pact. To restore Brian Ferentz’s two-year rolling deal, Iowa must win seven or more games and average 25 points per game.

So far, Iowa is 5-1 and is averaging 21.8 PPG, The Hawkeyes will need to average 29 PPG the rest of the season, to meet the threshold. Ahead of Iowa’s Saturday matinee in Madison against Wisconsin, IowaBets.com — your source for Iowa sports betting apps — constructed hypothetical odds on how likely the Hawkeyes are to reach 29 points in each remaining game this season.

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Odds of Iowa Scoring 29+ Points

Date	Opponent	Odds (29+ Points)	Percent Chance
Oct. 14	at Wisconsin	+ 250	28.6%
Oct. 21	vs. Minnesota	+ 125	44.4%
Nov. 4	Northwestern (at Wrigley Field)	+-115	53.5%
Nov. 11	vs. Rutgers	+ 175	36.4%
Nov. 18	vs. Illinois	+ 110	47.6%
Nov. 24	at Nebraska	+ 140	41.7%

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How Remaining Schedule Looks for Iowa

It seems like Ferentz’s PPG clause might be in some serious jeopardy, as we only see Iowa clearing 25 points once in its final six regular season contests (that being its Nov. 4 Wrigley Field game against 3-3 Northwestern). Through six games, the Hawkeyes have averaged 21.8 points per game offensively, but sit second in the Big Ten West at 2-1 (behind 2-0 Wisconsin), thanks to wins over Michigan State (26-16) and Purdue (20-14) at home in successive weeks.

From here, Ferentz and company will have to play the Badgers on the road this week. FanDuel Sportsbook Iowa has the Hawkeyes listed as 10-point and +280 underdogs. After that, Iowa hosts Minnesota, Northwestern, Rutgers and Illinois, before heading to Lincoln to play Nebraska in the team’s regular season finale Nov. 24.

Between now and then, we give Iowa odds that range from -115 (against NW) and +250 (against Wisconsin on Saturday) to clear 25 points, with the best odds outside of that Wrigley Field showdown coming in the Hawkeyes’ games against Illinois (+110), Minnesota (+125), Nebraska (+140) and Rutgers (+175).

As per Iowa’s odds of winning the Big Ten for the first time since 2004, oddsmakers at Caesars Sportsbook Iowa list the Hawkeyes at +2800, ranking fifth behind Michigan (+125), Ohio State (+230), Penn State (+300) and Wisconsin (+550).

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