Iowa vs. Northern Illinois Prediction, Odds, Pick For College Football Week 1

Kirk Ferentz opens his 28th season at Iowa — already the winningest coach in Big Ten history — as the Hawkeyes host NIU.
QB battle to watch: Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski have yet to be named starter and are both expected to play in Week 1.
NIU debuts in the Mountain West with an interim coach and an inexperienced roster after a 3–9 year, while Iowa’s strong running game (Kamari Moulton, transfer L.J. Phillips Jr.) should dictate the matchup.