College football 2023 Week 12 picks: Illinois vs. Iowa, Texas vs. Iowa State, North Dakota State vs. UNI

The Gazette’s Pick ‘Ems panel has score predictions for three games every week during the college football season, including the Iowa and Iowa State games. Here are the picks for Saturday, Nov. 18.

Illinois (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) at No. 16 Iowa (8-2, 5-2)

2:30 p.m. Saturday (FS1)

Mike Hlas (2-1 last week, 18-15 overall) — This is an experiment to see if you incredibly generous Hawkeye fans will respond: Venmo me cash at @Mike-Hlas. Iowa 16, Illinois 10

John Steppe (3-0, 22-11) — My alma mater picked up a quality basketball win against Illinois this week. As for football ... well ... Marquette has been undefeated since 1960. Iowa 17, Illinois 13

Jeff Johnson (1-2, 20-13) — With all the ups and downs, shouldn’t the Hawkeyes be “America’s Team” instead of those cheaters at Michigan? Iowa 21, Illinois 10

Rob Gray (3-0, 24-9) — Bret Bielema comes “home” with a team that’s been playing well as of late. The Illini still are in contention in the Big Ten West race and with Cooper DeJean out for the Hawkeyes, there’s a bit of added intrigue embedded in this matchup. It won’t matter in terms of the outcome. Iowa 17, Illinois 13

Beth Malicki (3-0, 21-12) — The kindness of Gazette readers knows no bounds. Thank you to the generous people who offered up their Hawkeye tickets — fingers crossed my youngest goes to Iowa so I’ll have an excuse to buy season tickets. Iowa 20, Illinois 13

Todd Brommelkamp (1-2, 17-16) — Another key player injured? ‘Tis but a flesh wound. Iowa 23, Illinois 6

No. 7 Texas (9-1, 6-1 Big 12) at Iowa State (6-4, 5-2)

7 p.m. Saturday (Fox)

Hlas — You remarkably unselfish Cyclone fans, one-up your Hawkeye counterparts. Venmo me cash at @Mike-Hlas. Iowa State 42, Texas 37

Steppe — Texas describes its official school color as “burnt orange.” That also aptly describes what my dinner last night looked like. Texas 31, Iowa State 10

Johnson — Just a gut feeling. Or maybe it’s just those chips, salsa and jalapenos I had last night. Iowa State 24, Texas 23

Gray — The No. 7 Longhorns lost one of the best tailbacks in the country to injury when Jonathon Brooks tore his ACL. Insert another 5-star recruit in his place, though, as this game will be won in the trenches. Texas boasts one of the nation’s Top 10 rushing defenses and it’s likely ISU will need to attack that group with quick-hitting passes in order to find some measure of success on the ground. A turnover or two should tip the scales in this matchup as a relatively short-lived series comes to an end because of conference realignment/greed. Texas 27, Iowa State 17

Malicki — Iowa State’s smashing expectations and I’d love it if they defeated Texas. But my husband aligns his self worth with our ranking on these Pick’ Ems. Texas 28, Iowa State 24

Brommelkamp — Horns, and I cannot stress this last part enough, down. Texas 34, Iowa State 27

FCS No. 9 North Dakota State (7-3, 4-3 MVFC) at No. 22 Northern Iowa (6-4, 5-2)

4 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Hlas — You marvelously magnanimous Panther fans, pull an upset that rivals the one your team will stage at the Dome against the Bison. Venmo me more cash than Hawkeye or Cyclone fans do at @Mike-Hlas. UNI 27, North Dakota State 24

Steppe — How many Christmas songs will Hlas let me get away with on the drive to Nebraska next week? The over/under is at negative-1.5. North Dakota State 41, UNI 30

Johnson — Remember, you can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your friend’s nose. And I apparently can’t pick these games well. North Dakota State 28, UNI 17

Gray — The Panthers own one win over a Top 15 team this season, but are smarting after a brutal, 35-16, loss at Missouri State. Getting the Bison at home is big, but the odds for an upset are long. North Dakota State 31, UNI 17

Malicki — I saw a spinal specialist and orthopedic surgeon this week in regards to my neck problem. The cause of my pain, stiffness and general misery? I sleep wrong. North Dakota State 38, UNI 33

Brommelkamp — Make it nine in a row over UNI for the Bison. North Dakota State 25, UNI 17