The Iowa Hawkeyes are playing in their most important game yet as we approach Week 12 of the college football season. A lot is riding on this one. It’s Senior Day for a team that values experience highly. With a victory, Iowa also has the opportunity to independently punch their ticket to Indianapolis.
Iowa is 8-2 overall and 5-2 in Big Ten competition. After taking home a share of the title last week, they have a commanding lead over the Big Ten West and can win to completely clinch the division.
Following an exhilarating overtime victory over Indiana last week, Illinois enters with a 5-5 overall record and a 3-4 record in Big Ten play. The Illini would give anything to ruin Iowa’s day as they battle for postseason bowl eligibility.
On Saturday, Nov. 18, at Kinnick Stadium, kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT. If you’re looking to do some last-minute research for your bets, you’re in luck! We will provide you with the most up-to-date point spread, money-line odds, and over/under figure, along with all the necessary information to help you place the best wager.
Player of the season: Cooper DeJean, CB (leg)
Quarterback Cade McNamara will miss the entire season due to a knee injury.
Luke Lachey, TE: injured ankle out for season
Erick All, TE: knee injury out of season
Diante Vines, WR: unclear (dubious)
TE Steven Stilianos: dubious (undisclosed).
T.J. Hall, Database: dubious (undisclosed)
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Pat Bryant, wide receiver: dubious (undisclosed)
RB Kaden Feagin: dubious (shoulder)
Josh McCray, RB: neck injury out of season
Adian Laugherty, RB: sidelined due to a knee injury.
The season is over for DB Matthew Bailey (shoulder)
Demetrius Hill, DB: (knee) out for the season
Malachi Hood, LB: injured during the season
Jordan Anderson, running back: knee injury out of season
30 degrees at night and 57 degrees at day.
0% of precipitation
Wind speed: 9 mph west with 20 mph gusts
Another perfect day for football for both the teams and the spectators inside Kinnick Stadium. I’ve watched my fair share of games below freezing this weekend, and the weather is perfect for them.
For the season’s final home game, tailgating will be fierce as fans try to secure a trip to Indianapolis. This coming weekend, Kinnick will be exploding with energy and intensity.
Under 30.5 total points is the best bet.
Riley’s 8-2 Best Bet Record
Win again this week with the best wager. We are now 8-2 on the year, matching Iowa’s overall record, thanks to last week’s moneyline selection. All I can hope is that you have been paying attention.
We’re back on a total pick this week. There are less than 30 points in this game. A 9–6 score accounted for half of this total in the previous year’s event. With an Illinois offence that lost Chase Brown to the NFL playing against an incredibly confident Iowa defence, I do not see it doubling up this year.
Iowa will attempt to suffocate the Illini on Senior Day by playing their slow, methodical style of football, knowing that one victory is all that is needed to secure the Big Ten West. As they drain Illinois of its last resources, Iowa won’t want to allow them to amass an excessive amount of goods.
You can guarantee a trip to Indianapolis before the regular season ends by taking the under and hoping for a result that puts Iowa ahead.
Bonus Bet: If available, consider placing a small wager on Nico Ragaini to score a touchdown. This is his last game at home. He’s a sixth-year student. Recently, Iowa has been working the ball to him. There seems to be more to this than meets the eye.
Forecast: 17 for Iowa, 7 for Illinois
Illinois’s overall offensive ranking is middle of the pack at number 59. They can somewhat move the ball. In terms of passing efficiency, they rank 40th overall, averaging 261 yards per contest. They do have 11 interceptions in addition to their 19 touchdowns.
Running the ball is where they falter. With only 3.94 yards per carry, the Illini rank 91st in the country in terms of rushing offence. This is a difficult matchup for the Illini when you consider that Iowa’s run defence is ranked No. 12 in yards per rush allowed with 3.16 yards allowed, No. 23 overall in rushing yards per game allowed, and has given up just one rushing touchdown all season.
Luke Altmyer, the starting quarterback for the Illini, will make his debut this week after being injured against Indiana last week. Iowa is a defence that is designed to smother even the smallest mistake, so they will want to stifle the run game and turn this into clear passing downs. Against Iowa, Illinois has given up 37 sacks, lost 8 fumbles, and thrown 10 interceptions—all of which were costly mistakes.
After Iowa plays their style one more time, I’m done. With field position and a few more turnovers, the Hawkeyes win a low-scoring game and give the offence short fields. With a boisterous home crowd, Iowa prevails in this match and advances to the Big Ten West tournament in Indianapolis.winners.
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