The Southern Illinois University Salukis are on the road to take on the Northwestern University Wildcats (1-1, 1-0 Big 10) at Ryan Field on Saturday. Southern Illinois is coming off a tight 34-31 loss against Southeast Missouri State at Saluki Stadium last Saturday. Nic Baker threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns. Romeir Elliott ran 10 times for 64 yards and a touchdown. Avante Cox caught seven passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Northwestern (1-1, 1-0 Big 10) lost 31-23 to Duke at Ryan Field last Saturday. Ryan Hilinski was 36 of 60 for 435 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Evan Hull scored on the ground and through the air. He carried 17 times for 65 yards and a touchdown and added 14 catches for 213 yards and a receiving TD. Hull added a touchdown of his own. He hauled in 14 receptions for 213 yards. The Wildcats are averaging 27.0 points per game so far this season, 89th in FBS, while allowing 29.5 PPG (92nd).Northwestern has been one of the nation’s top passing teams, averaging 374.5 passing yards per game (8th), while ranking 85th in rushing yards (145.0). Defensively, the Wildcats are 117th in the country in passing yards allowed per game (297.5). Against the run, Northwestern is 96th (165.5).
TOP PERFORMERS
Through two games, Baker has thrown for two touchdowns (1 INT) and 211.5 yards per game to lead Southern Illinois in passing. In one prior away game this season, he had zero TDs (1 INT) and 175 yards passing. Elliott leads the team in rushing with an average of 83.5 yards a game over two games. He has two touchdowns on the ground. Cox is the Salukis’ leading receiver with 71.5 yards a game and two TDs. Hilinski has four passing touchdowns (1 INT) with 374.5 yards per game through two games to lead Northwestern. In two home games this season, he has thrown for four TDs (1 INT) and an average of 374.5 yards. Hull has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 92.0 yards a game through two games. He also tops the team in total receiving yards for the season (134.0 yards a game). He has three total touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving.
SportsTips’ College Football Pick:
Northwestern
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
