Kickoff: 1:00 PM CT
Venue: Legacy Field at Carlson Stadium, Decorah, Iowa (Capacity: ~5,000)
Broadcast: ESPN+ / American Rivers Conference Network
Weather Forecast (Decorah, IA)
Temperature: ~72°F (22°C) at kickoff, cooling into the upper 60s by the 4th quarter
Conditions: Partly cloudy, light winds (5–8 mph)
Impact: Ideal early fall football weather; no disruptions expected.
Injury Report
Central Dutch (A-R-C):
QB Jack O’Connor (ankle) – Probable.
RB Marcus Carter (hamstring) – Questionable.
LB Ethan Wallace (shoulder) – Out.
Luther Norse (A-R-C):
QB Tyler Smith (starter, 2 TDs, 3 INTs through 2 games) – Healthy.
RB Chris Johnson (knee) – Probable.
WR Evan Miller (concussion protocol) – Doubtful.
Key Player Matchups
QB Jack O’Connor (Central) vs. Luther Secondary
O’Connor’s ability to stretch the field vertically will test Luther’s defensive backs.
RB Marcus Carter (Central) vs. Luther Front Seven
If active, Carter’s downhill running could help Central control tempo.
QB Tyler Smith (Luther) vs. Central Pass Rush
Smith has been turnover-prone; Central’s aggressive front will look to capitalize.
RB Chris Johnson (Luther) vs. Central Linebackers
Johnson’s ability to grind out yards between the tackles will be key to sustaining drives.
Recent Team Form
Central Dutch (1–1, A-R-C)
9/6/25: W 35–21 vs. St. Olaf
9/13/25: L 10–0 vs. Randolph-Macon (#15)
Trend: Offense averaging 17.5 PPG; defense stout, allowing just 15.5 PPG.
Luther Norse (0–2, A-R-C)
9/6/25: L 33–3 vs. Millikin
9/13/25: L 34–0 @ Martin Luther
Trend: Offense averaging 1.5 PPG; defense allowing 33.5 PPG.
Series History
Central has dominated the series historically.
Last meeting (2024): Central defeated Luther 49–7.
Central has won 15 straight meetings dating back to 2009.
Luther’s last win in the series came in 2008.
Betting Trends
Central:
4–1 ATS in last 5 games.
3 of last 5 games have gone under the total.
5–0 SU in last 5 A-R-C games.
Luther:
0–5 ATS in last 5 games.
4 of last 5 games have gone under the total.
0–5 SU in last 5 home games.
Head-to-Head: Central has covered in 4 of the last 5 meetings.
Historical Betting Results
Central: Profitable ATS as a heavy favorite; unders common due to defensive strength.
Luther: Struggles ATS as a home underdog; unders frequent due to offensive inconsistency.
A-R-C Trends: Ranked A-R-C teams cover ~61% of the time in September conference play.
Game Odds
Central Dutch – 24.5
Luther Norse 48.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 19, 2025
