Iowa Hawkeyes at Indiana Hoosiers: Preview, prediction, TV info

(Video courtesy IUAthletics)

Iowa (4-4, 2-2 Big Ten) at Indiana (3-5, 1-3)

Kickoff: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)

Spread: Indiana by 1.5

Watchability: Don't look now, but the Hoosiers are on the verge of contending for the Leaders Division. A victory over the Hawkeyes would put them only one league game behind Wisconsin in the standings with a visit from the Badgers looming next week. Indiana coach Kevin Wilson said his team isn't consistent enough to contend for a title yet. We start to find out against Iowa.

Shining stars: Iowa -- WR Kevonte Martin-Manley is becoming a bigger and bigger part of the offense. The sophomore has 36 catches for 361 yards with a touchdown this season. However, 17 of those catches for 130 yards came in the past three games combined as Martin-Manley continues to emerge as a top option in the passing attack. Indiana -- RB Stephen Houston has cracked the end zone in every game this season, rushing for 521 yards with nine touchdowns while catching 18 passes for 170 yards with three scores. Houston is becoming a bigger part of the team's offense. Look for him to get the ball on swing passes and screens.

Who could steal the show: Iowa -- LB Anthony Hitchens is among the top tacklers in the league, let alone the country. The junior has a team-high 92 tackles, including four for loss, to go with one sack. Hitchens will have his hands full trying to make plays in space against the Indiana spread offense. Indiana -- DB Greg Heban isn't playing like a former walk-on. The junior has a team-high 61 tackles, including five for loss, to go with seven passes defended and a pair of interceptions. He also recovered a fumble on special teams last week.

Magic number for Iowa: 8. Interceptions for the Hawkeyes through eight games after making 10 in 13 games last season. Six different Iowa players have picked off a pass this year, including DBs Tom Donatell and Greg Castillo each making two.

Magic number for Indiana: 8. Consecutive games scoring at least 24 points, a school record. Indiana ranks second in the Big Ten in total offense (443.4 yards per game).

The game comes down to: Can a QB emerge for Indiana? Hoosiers starting QB Cameron Coffman has shared time with freshman QB Nate Sudfeld and was pulled in the first half after a terrible interception against Illinois last week. Sudfeld has played better lately, but Wilson said he will continue to rotate his passers. One must emerge to help stabliize a potentially dynamic aerial attack.

Prediction: Hoosiers 27, Hawkeyes 24

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big Ten bloggers Dave Carey and Mike Singer, follow @CBSSportsBigTen