First things first, Iowa (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) needs to handle its own business against Wisconsin (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten). If they do, though, 247Sports likes for the Hawkeyes’ Big Ten West chances to improve.
In its list of “upset alert” games, No. 20 Illinois’ home date versus Purdue was included. Right now, Illinois is still around a touchdown favorite per Tipico Sportsbook, and the Hawkeyes are hoping the Boilermakers can pull the outright upset.
Combined with an Iowa victory, an Illinois loss would seemingly open the path for the Hawkeyes to reach the Big Ten Championship game if they can win out.
247Sports’ Dean Straka has the Illini’s date against Purdue earmarked as ripe for an upset.
If recent history means anything, Purdue could spell trouble for Illinois. The Boilermakers have won six of past eight and five of the past six meetings in the series with the Fighting Illini, and catch Bret Bielema’s group coming fresh off a disheartening home loss to Michigan State. Granted, Purdue can’t be feeling much better about itself after dropping a 24-3 decision to an Iowa squad whose offense has been egregiously inept for the majority of the 2022 campaign. Now comes a meeting with the nation’s top defense just seven days after getting manhandled by a Hawkeyes defense that isn’t far behind (Iowa ranks third nationally in total defense). But what the Illini allowed to go down last Saturday against a struggling Spartans squad should give Bielema’s squad some concern and, conversely, the Boilermakers hope heading into Saturday. – Straka, 247Sports.
Straka touches on how Michigan State‘s 109th-ranked total offense found a way to make throws when it mattered against Illinois last week and that could foreshadow positive happenings for the Boilermakers.
A lot of Iowa’s hopes in Purdue will rest with Boilermakers quarterback Aidan O’Connell delivering a better performance than he could muster up against the Hawkeyes. Iowa frustrated O’Connell into his worst performance of the season.
O’Connell completed just 20-of-43 passes for a season-low 168 passing yards and he was picked off twice.
Ten interceptions aside, Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell is one of the nation’s most prolific passers and may very well be on his way to a 3,000-yard passing season. His 2,438 passing yards rank 21st in the FBS, and the senior has 15 touchdown passes to accompany that mark. If Purdue’s offense can develop some consistency through the air while staying on the field long enough to ware down the Illinois defense, the Boilermakers could be walking out of Champaign with a victory while making the Big Ten West race quite interesting. – Straka, 247Sports.
While it’s unlikely the Hawkeyes will be following this game as they gear up to battle for the Heartland Trophy, that won’t stop Iowa fans from doing so. Hopefully, Purdue can deliver some good news just about the time the Hawkeyes and Badgers kickoff.
[lawrence-related id=12470]
[lawrence-related id=12463]
[lawrence-related id=12455]
[listicle id=12543]
[listicle id=12537]
[listicle id=12534]
[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdcxf97xrgg1awc player_id=none image=https://hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF
Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.