The Iowa Hawkeyes play host to the Illinois Fighting Illini in Big Ten Football action on Saturday. The game is scheduled for a noon start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Currently the betting odds for the game have the Hawkeyes listed as a double-digit favorite to pick up the victory at home.

Double digits seems like quite a bit of points in this one. Illinois has been able to score so far this season in five games, but they're really played nobody of substance except North Carolina, which drilled the Fighting Illini. This is the same Illinois team that fired its head coach prior to the season opener, but they've been able to find a way to navigate through the tough times to pile up four wins.

Wes Lunt has tossed for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns to date this season, but Illinois will be without starting tailback Josh Ferguson will not play due to injury. Backup Ke'Shawn Vaughn, who has run for 325 yards and two scores this season, will get the nod and look to make a positive impact. 

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard has seven touchdown passes to date, he's thrown for a 1,000 yards as well. The Hawkeyes also like to run the football with Jordan Canzeri, who has eight touchdowns on the ground. Illinois couldn't stop North Carolina from scoring in the Illini's only real game against tough competition this season, but maybe that wasn't such a terrible loss as UNC is now 4-1 on the year and scoring a ton of points.

Illinois will have to be sound defensively to have a chance. The Hawkeyes won at Wisconsin last week despite not scoring many points as the defense is pretty solid. The Fighting Illini are without their top back, but Vaughn is serviceable and can have a good game.

The Fighting Illini should be able to keep this one close.

Free Pick: Illinois plus the points

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