Oddsmakers got what they anticipated in Iowa-Minnesota on Saturday.
The total for the Hawkeyes vs. Golden Gophers contest officially closed at 30.5 points, which is the lowest FBS total since numbers began being tracked in 1995, according to SportsGrid’s Ben Stevens.
And yet, even at that historic number, the two teams still hit the under.
Iowa and Minnesota combined for just 22 points, with the Golden Gophers pulling off the road upset with a 12-10 win over the No. 24 Hawkeyes.
Minnesota came out on top with just four field goals, while Iowa mustered only one touchdown and a field goal.
The pair broke its own record-low college football total, which was set in November of last season with an over/under set at 31.5 points.
In less than a year, Iowa has now been involved in three different games, including the Music City Bowl against Kentucky (31.5 points), with an over/under below 32.
All season, Iowa has featured one of the best defenses in college football while struggling to move the ball on offense.
Aside from a 31-0 loss to Penn State, the Hawkeyes have held their opponent to 16 or fewer points in every game, although they’ve eclipsed 26 points on offense just once.
Minnesota, meanwhile, sports a solid defense and is also far from a powerhouse on offense.
Although the teams still managed to hit the under, the game could have been even more low-scoring if the Golden Gophers were a bit more disciplined on defense.
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During the game’s only touchdown drive, which occurred late in the second quarter by the Hawkeyes, Minnesota helped them up the field with three big penalties, including one on third-and-goal, which would’ve likely forced Iowa into a field goal attempt.
The Hawkeyes also coughed up the ball on a fumble by quarterback Deacon Hill, leading to a Minnesota field goal in the third quarter.
The Hawkeyes very nearly escaped with a win after punt returner Cooper DeJean ran one back 54 yards to put them up four points with less than two minutes left, but the officials ruled the play a fair catch.
The game was, somehow, not the lowest scoring of the day, though.
Mississippi State beat Arkansas, 7-3, in a defensive battle.
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