|
 But the Illini have also been a pleasant surprise under interim
coach Bill Cubit, winning their Big Ten opener over Nebraska to
improve to 4-1 for the team’s best start since 2011. Quarterback Wes
Lunt has been efficient (58.1 percent completion rate) guiding the
Illini offense, and has hooked up with Geronimo Allison 32 times for
453 yards - both Big Ten-highs. He may need to go to the air more
against an Iowa defense that ranks 11th in the country in allowing
84.4 rushing yards per game. The Hawkeyes will be looking to bounce
back offensively after averaging 37.8 points in their first four
games before last week's 10-6 victory.
TV: Noon ET, ESPNU. LINE: Iowa -11
ABOUT ILLINOIS (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten): While the 4-1 start is nice -
especially winning the conference opener against Nebraska, what
Cubit is most excited about is how his team is winning close games.
A week after getting past Middle Tennessee by two points, Illinois
rallied for a last-minute victory over the Cornhuskers on Lunt’s
touchdown pass to Allison with 10 seconds to play. “I think more so
than a win, it’s just really how we did it,” Cubit told reporters.
“The resolve, the resiliency of our football team out there.”
ABOUT IOWA (5-0, 1-0): Quarterback C.J. Beathard took a lot of heat
against Wisconsin, getting pressured seven times and sacked four
times, but was able to get through it and will his team to victory.
The junior has shown that kind of toughness throughout his career,
giving Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz plenty of confidence in his signal
caller. "His poise, he's unflappable thus far. And if you were going
to be flappable, that was the time to be right there," Ferentz told
reporters. "To go through a game like that, if you can go through
those and win, that's a really good thing."
[to top of second column] |
EXTRA POINTS
1. Illinois ranks fourth in the nation in third down conversion
defense, allowing 17 first downs in 78 attempts.
2. Iowa is the only school in the country that has yet to allow a
rushing touchdown this season.
3. The Illini have won four of their last six conference games;
prior to that, they were 1-24 in their previous 25 Big Ten contests.
PREDICTION: Iowa 34, Illinois 21
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