No. 20 Northwestern’s perfect season ended in emphatic fashion as it was shut out by a dominant Michigan team. But the Wildcats still have much to play for this season, like winning the Big Ten West. But to do that, they must take down the current leaders, the No. 17 Iowa Hawkeyes, who are still a perfect 6-0 after getting past Illinois on Saturday.
Read on below as we preview this huge Big Ten matchup. Meanwhile, click here for a complete listing of the top five games to watch in Week 7 of the college football season.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Northwestern Wildcats Preview
Where: Ryan Field, Evanston
When: Saturday, October 17, 12:00 PM ET
Line: Iowa Hawkeyes (pk) at Northwestern Wildcats (pk) – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ABC/ESPN 2
Betting on the Iowa Hawkeyes (6-0)
For the first time in six years, the Iowa Hawkeyes are 6-0 to start the year. The Hawkeyes earned their sixth win with a 29-20 home win over Illinois. Running back Jordan Canzeri was the star as he carried the ball an incredible 43 times en route to a career-high 256 yards with a touchdown.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Canzeri is having an excellent senior season. He’s third in the conference in rushing yards per game (116) and his tally of nine rushing touchdowns is second only to Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliot.
However, Canzeri is just part of a pretty balanced Hawkeyes offense that’s putting up 31.3 points per game, second to Ohio State in the Big Ten. Quarterback C.J. Beathard has been solid this season, with nine touchdowns against just two interceptions.
The Iowa defense is pretty good, too. It ranks fifth in the conference in scoring defense, giving up just 16.2 points per game, but is second to Michigan in terms of rushing defense (78 rushing yards allowed per game). The Hawkeyes are one of just three teams in the nation to have allowed only one rushing touchdown thus far this season.
That incredibly stingy run defense will be a huge advantage in stopping Northwestern’s bread and butter on offense, and could force their freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson to pass a lot more. The Hawkeyes already have eight interceptions this season, tied with Ohio State for the most in the Big Ten. Two of those picks came in their big 10-6 road win over Wisconsin.
Iowa has won two straight against Northwestern, including a 48-7 demolition of the Wildcats last season.
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Betting on the Northwestern Wildcats (5-1)
Yes, Northwestern was absolutely hammered 38-0 last time out on the road at Michigan. It was a pretty putrid display from the offense, which was limited to 168 total yards all game. But the Wildcats are far from the only ones that have fallen victim to the rabid Wolverines, who have now shut out three opponents in a row.
That bad loss shouldn’t take away too much from the Wildcats’ other very impressive wins this season, most notably against Stanford and at Duke, two very good teams whose only losses to date are to Northwestern.
The Northwestern running game might have been completely shut down to the tune of 1.5 yards per carry against Michigan, but it’s been effective against everyone else. Even with a meager 38-yard output on the ground at Ann Arbor, the Wildcats are still second in the Big Ten (behind only Ohio State) with 213 rushing yards per game.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats’ main strength – their defense – should keep them in the game against a formidable Hawkeyes offense. Despite giving up 38 points to Michigan, Northwestern is still No. 3 in the conference in points allowed per game, giving up just 12.2 points.
Writer’s Prediction
Iowa’s defense forces Thorson to some turnovers, while the Hawkeyes offense puts up enough points on the board. Iowa (pk) wins on the road, 17-13.
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