Both teams will be looking to end losing runs when the Northwestern University Wildcats (1-6, 1-3 Big 10) head to take on the University of Iowa Hawkeyes (3-4, 1-3 Big 10) at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. The Hawkeyes are 11-point favorites, and the total is 37.5.
Northwestern is coming off a 31-24 loss at the hands of Maryland at SECU Stadium last Saturday, their sixth straight defeat. Brendan Sullivan threw for 143 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Evan Hull ran 20 times for 119 yards. He added four receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Malik Washington caught six passes for 72 yards.Iowa dropped a third straight game last Saturday, falling 54-10 to No. 2 Ohio State at Ohio Stadium. Spencer Petras was 6 of 14 for 81 yards and two interceptions. Leshon Williams carried nine times for 31 yards. Sam LaPorta hauled in six receptions for 55 yards.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Hawkeyes won the only meeting between the teams last season, a 17-12 victory in November. Tyler Goodson had a rushing touchdown for Iowa.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Wildcats are averaging 18.6 points per game for the season, 118th in FBS, and they are facing a Hawkeyes defense that has surrendered 16.1 PPG (8th). Meanwhile, Iowa has scored 14.0 points a game this season, 128th in the country, and Northwestern is allowing 28.1 PPG (81st).
The Wildcats rank 45th in the country in passing yards per game (262.1) and 101st in rushing (127.0). They will face a tough test, as the Hawkeyes are 11th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (174.0) and 14th against the run (104.3).Iowa has been one of the nation’s least successful teams in both passing and rushing yards per game, averaging 145.9 (122nd) and 81.4 (127th) yards per game, respectively.
Northwestern’s defense has been most beatable on the ground, as the Wildcats are 112th in the country in rushing yards allowed per game (187.6). Against the pass, the Wildcats are 58th (220.9).
TOP PERFORMERS
Through six games, Ryan Hilinski has thrown for six touchdowns (6 INT) and 262.7 yards per game to lead Northwestern in passing. Evan Hull leads the team in rushing with an average of 78.1 yards a game over seven games. He’s also contributed to the passing game with 62.3 receiving yards a game.
He has three touchdowns on the ground. Malik Washington is the Wildcats’ leading receiver with 64.0 yards a game and one TD.Spencer Petras has two passing touchdowns (5 INT) with 141.3 yards per game through seven games to lead Iowa.
In four home games this season, he has thrown for two TDs (2 INT) and an average of 155.5 yards. Leshon Williams has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 44.5 yards a game through six games. He has two touchdowns. Sam LaPorta has been a key target in the Hawkeyes’ aerial attack, averaging 47.7 yards per game through seven appearances.
SportsTips’ College Football Pick:
Iowa (-450)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
