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Illinois vs. Iowa fearless prediction and game preview.
Illinois vs. Iowa Broadcast
Date: Saturday, November 23
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Network: BTN
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Illinois (6-4) vs. Iowa (7-3) Game Preview
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Why Illinois Will Win
The red-hot Illini have won four straight, they’ve become bowl eligible, and they’ve been a whole lot of fun with dramatic wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State.
Now it’s gravy time.
Beating the Badgers and Spartans was great, but can they get by an Iowa team team that just handed Minnesota its first loss of the year? It’s possible as long as they can keep dominating the turnover margin.
How did they beat Bucky? They hung around, hung around, hung around … and then came the two late takeaways on the way to the win.
Two weeks ago, the four turnovers were vital in Michigan State’s meltdown against an Illini defense that generates a solid pass rush and leads the nation with 26 takeaways. The D has come up with at least two in every game but the loss to Eastern Michigan.
Iowa doesn’t score a bunch, it’s not going to explode and put this game away fast – it doesn’t have the pop – and Illinois should be able to hang around, hang around, hang around …
One problem.
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Why Iowa Will Win
Iowa doesn’t turn the ball over.
It’s given it up just nine times on the year, with four turnovers in the loss to Michigan, two in the loss to Penn State, and three against everyone else. On the year, the Hawkeyes – who lead the Big Ten with the fewest giveaways – are 5-0 when they don’t turn the ball over,
Iowa has won 12 straight games going back to 2016 when it doesn’t suffer a turnover, and is 21-1 – the lone loss coming to Wisconsin in 2016 – when there aren’t any mistakes.
No, the Hawkeyes don’t score in bunches and they’re not going to get up 31-0 and put the game away, but they’re going to hold the ball for what seems like forever. Illinois doesn’t go on long marches, and it doesn’t do anything to control the clock – it’s dead last in the Big Ten in time of possession.
Iowa’s defense is only giving up just over 300 yards per game, QB Nate Stanley is experienced enough to not throw the big pick, and the team doesn’t beat itself.
It leads the Big Ten in fewest penalties along with the fewest turnovers. It’s not going to give the Illini the breaks they’ll need to pull this off.
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What’s Going To Happen
The Iowa defensive front will stall the pedestrian Illinois running game, while the offensive side will milk the clock and control the game throughout. The Illini will do what they do and come up with one or two big plays to stay alive, but the Hawkeyes won’t collapse late like the Spartans did.
Illinois vs. Iowa Prediction, Line
Iowa 26, Illinois 16
Bet on Illinois vs. Iowa with BetMGM, or for latest line
Iowa -15.5, o/u: 46.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
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Must See Rating: 3
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