[12:02 PM] Northwestern @ Iowa

Who will WIN this matchup?

Northwestern Wildcats (1-3)

@ Iowa Hawkeyes (3-1)

 

Current odds:

Northwestern Wildcats: (+400)

Iowa Hawkeyes: (-500)

 

• ESPN simulations have Iowa as XX% favorites to win the game.

• Northwestern is 0-0 as a road team, 0-0 as an underdog and 0-0 as a road underdog.

• Iowa is 0-0 as a home team, 0-0 as a favorite and 0-0 as a home favorite.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Iowa to win as (XX) favorites.

• The line for this game is Iowa by 13 points.

• Iowa looks to shake off two straight underwhelming performances and a crippling injury as it hosts Northwestern on Saturday in a critical Big Ten game for both teams. The Hawkeyes edged Rutgers 14-7 last week after getting upset by FCS member North Dakota State and leading receiver Matt VandeBerg is out indefinitely after suffering a foot injury in practice Monday.

• Sophomore quarterback Clayton Thorson has had some good moments, throwing for 569 yards combined the last two weeks, but has tossed four interceptions as well. Junior Justin Jackson, coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, has 339 in four games to start 2016 and Thorson is next with just 41 while senior Austin Carr leads the Big Ten in receptions (26) and receiving yards (392) with three touchdowns. Junior linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (23 tackles), who was slowed by injury in preseason, leads the defense.

• Senior quarterback C.J. Beathard was hassled in the pocket often at Rutgers last week and sacked twice, completing just 12 passes, and will miss the improving VandeBerg (19 receptions, 284 yards). Senior tight end George Kittle, who was used more the last two weeks with seven catches for 166 yards, could be more important while sophomores Jerminic Smith and Jay Scheel take on bigger roles. The Hawkeyes must depend more on a solid ground attack, led by senior LeShun Daniels Jr. (301 yards, three TDs) and junior Akrum Wadley (274, four).

• The Hawkeyes can win their 10th straight Big Ten regular-season game, which would match their longest such streak since 2001-02.

• Jackson needs 56 yards to become the fourth Northwestern player to rush for 3,000 in their career.

• Wadley rushed for a career-best 204 yards in Iowa’s 40-10 victory over the Wildcats last year, its fourth win in the last five games of the series.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Iowa Hawkeyes

Confidence: 6/10

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