The glory days for Bret Bielema as a head coach have been in the Big Ten. It is hard to argue with Ben's comment there.
I didn't renew my season tickets, after the 2010 season. For all the shortcomings this season, they don't compare to 2010, from a talent standpoint.
Talk about a game with talent on the both sides of the field. It is great to be back in Kinnick in 2021 and in many respects, it is fitting Bret B is back in the B1G, as well.
Illinois is 3-4 in the Big Ten compared to Iowa's 5-2 mark, but the margin for error for the Hawkeyes has been thin all season. It should continue at Kinnick on Saturday.
This week's game is B1G for a variety of reasons.
- both teams have gone with two different QBs due to injury
- In many ways, the second string QB appears to be the better of the two for each program
Iowa is allowing 17.9 points per game in Big Ten play, while is holding teams to 17.6 per game.
QB Spencer Petras ranks #9 of the Top 13 rated QBs, but neither starter for Saturday are rated.
Illinois RB Chase Brown is the 4th rated rusher in the Big Ten play at 92.2 yards per play, ahead of Iowa's Tyler Goodson (78.3) and his teammate Josh McCray (62.3), who rank 8th and 9th. Goodson has the longest carry at 56 yards.
Iowa has the #23 leading receiver in this contest with TE Sam LaPorta.
Iowa has the #2 KO and punt returner in the B1G in Charlie Jones 23.0 yards per KO and 8.4 per punt. Illinois Donny Navarro is 7th in PR at 2.4.
Not many teams allow too many kick returns, as we typically saw the past two weeks with Northwestern and Minnesota.
Five players are mentioned among the Top 25 in total offense in Big Ten play:
- Chase Brown, 17th for Illinois
- Alex Padilla, 21st for Iowa
- Brandon Peters, 22nd for Illinois
- Tyler Goodson, 23rd for Iowa
- Josh McCray, 24th for Illinois
- Chase Brown, 9th for Illinois
- Tyler Goodson, 12th for Iowa
- Charlie Jones, 13th for Iowa
- Josh McCray, 23rd for Illinois
Five of the Top 25 tacklers in the Big Ten will be on the field Saturday. Iowa LBs Jack Campbell and Seth Benson are 10th and 18th, while FS Jack Koerner is 21st in conference. Illinois S Sydney Brown and ILB Tarique Barnes are 14th and 23rd, respectively
Illinois OLB Owen Carney, Jr. ranks 5th ins sacks and 16th in Big Ten play in TFL, while Iowa's DE Zach VanValkenburg is 22nd in TFL.
Iowa S Dane Belton is 1st in interceptions and 6th is passes defended, while Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon is 11th defended passes. Illinois S Kerby Joseph is 2nd in interceptions.
Illinois and Iowa are both slightly under 30 minutes in Time of Possession each Big Ten game at 29:47 and 29 minutes respectively. Minnesota leads the Big Ten at 35:49, but is 0-2 against both teams.
Illinois has the worse red zone offense in the Big Ten, so explosive plays will be key on Saturday. Both Minnesota TDs were outside the red zone. Only one was for Iowa.
Penalties and red zone defense are very similar for both teams.
I will admit. If QB Spencer Petras was starting, I would prefer him over Brandon Peters. Petras isn't in the 2-deep list for this week, again.
Iowa should have edge in kicking game on Saturday. Illinois is better protecting their QB and getting to opponents QB, then Iowa. Turnovers are always a key stat.
