Penn State at Iowa odds are easy to find, but you have at least one option for NCAAF betting if you want to back the UNI Panthers.
Northern Iowa is in a rated matchup this weekend, too.
The 16 sportsbooks in Iowa don’t tend to list FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) game odds, however.
You usually won’t find spreads for Sam Houston State, totals for Tennessee-Martin or moneyline wagers for Missouri State. FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) games already keep the oddsmakers pretty busy.
That’s a shame because No. 12 (coaches poll) UNI has a great but challenging October schedule:
- At No. 5 North Dakota State (Oct. 9)
- A South Dakota team that nearly beat Kansas (Oct. 16)
- At No. 3 South Dakota State (Oct. 23)
- No. 7 Southern Illinois (Oct. 30).
An upset in Fargo, ND, would push UNI up the FCS rankings and closer to an FCS playoff berth.
One way to bet on the Panthers
Operators behind the BetRivers Sportsbook and Unibet Sportsbook in Iowa do have FCS Championship futures odds.
As you might expect, North Dakota State is among the favorites to finish the season on top. The Bison have won eight of the last 10 national championships. Most years, Northern Iowa is in the playoffs, but the Panthers only have one championship game appearance, a 21-16 loss in 2005 to Appalachian State.
The FCS futures are identical at BetRivers and Unibet. Here’s a look at the 10 shortest odds for the FCS National Championship:
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| South Dakota State | +300 |
| North Dakota State | +350 |
| James Madison | +400 |
| Sam Houston State | +500 |
| Eastern Washington | +900 |
| Montana | +1200 |
| UC Davis | +1200 |
| Southern Illinois | +1400 |
| Northern Iowa | +2500 |
| Montana State | +2500 |
- The FCS Playoffs begin with eight first-round games on Saturday, Nov. 27.
- The top eight seeds in the 24-team bracket get a bye and play second-round games Saturday, Dec. 4.
- The quarterfinals are Saturday, Dec. 11
- The semifinals are on Dec. 18.
- The FCS National Championship is on Jan. 8 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX.
How to watch UNI at North Dakota State
- What: No. 12 UNI (3-1, 1-0 in MVFC) at No. 5 North Dakota State (4-0, 1-0)
- When: 1 p.m. Saturday
- Where: Fargo Dome in Fargo, ND
- TV: ESPN+
UNI is coming off a 34-7 homecoming win over Youngstown State in Cedar Falls. UNI only allowed 52 rushing yards against the Penguins.
Run defense will be critical against the Bison as well. North Dakota State is the No. 1 FCS team in rushing offense at 317 yards per game. Four NDSU running backs average more than seven yards per carry.
It’s homecoming week for the Bison. They’re coming off a 16-10 win at rival North Dakota.
