Iowa's chances improve with Northwestern's Aidan Chiles expected to miss Week 10

The No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes are set for a massive Big Ten Conference game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois, on Saturday. 

Both teams are 3-2 in Big Ten play, but Iowa's chances of getting a win on the road just got a lot better with a big update on Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles. 

Aidan Chiles is expected to miss Week 10

On Friday, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Chiles is "expected" to miss Week 10 due to an upper-body injury. 

Thamel also said that Chiles' return timeline is uncertain right now, so it could be a big blow to Northwestern in what has been a promising season. 

Chiles, who played at Michigan State and Oregon State before coming to Northwestern, has thrown for 1,898 yards with 13 touchdowns and 1 interception. He also has 10 rushing scores, so Chip Kelly has found ways to use him in several aspects as part of a revamped Northwestern offense. 

Who starts for Northwestern in Week 10? 

With Chiles sidelined, it will be Nicco Marchiol as the team's starter. Marchiol spent four seasons at West Virginia, posting a 6-2 record as a starter and appearing in a total of 27 games for the Mountaineers. 

Iowa's chances got better 

Iowa is coming off a 30-0 shutout win against the Wisconsin Badgers on Halloween, so momentum is already on the Hawkeyes' side. 

Now, Iowa should be favorites even more with Chiles sidelined, although Marchiol has plenty of experience.