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Wisconsin Football: Will Badgers be on upset alert again vs. Iowa?

By Quinn Douglas

MADISON, WI - NOVEMBER 11: Bradrick Shaw #7 of the Wisconsin Badgers avoids a tackle by Joshua Jackson #15 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the fourth quarter of a game at Camp Randall Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - NOVEMBER 11: Bradrick Shaw #7 of the Wisconsin Badgers avoids a tackle by Joshua Jackson #15 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the fourth quarter of a game at Camp Randall Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Wisconsin football faces a tough Big Ten West test in Week 4 against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Can the Badgers escape another upset loss?

Not often do we see such a pivotal game in a conference division race so early in the season in the Big Ten, but we get just that with the Badgers and the Hawkeyes meeting this Saturday night. These two teams have been the class of the Big Ten West since the divisional realignment following the 2013 season. Wisconsin has won three division titles and Iowa has won the only other non-Wisconsin division championship in 2015.

Wisconsin is coming off a devastating loss to BYU in the friendly confines of Camp Randal Stadium. The Badgers did rush for over 200 yards as a team, but junior quarterback Alex Hornibrook struggled, throwing for only 190 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. The Badgers defense is beat up too as linebacker Griffin Grady is ruled out and it is unlikely that pass-rushing specialist and Iowa-native Andrew Van Ginkel will play either.

Iowa is off to a solid start, running their record to 3-0, and looking most impressive against in-state foe Northern Iowa last week. Quarterback Nate Stanley threw for over 300 yards for the first time since the Iowa State game in 2017. The two-headed monster at running back of Mekhi Sargent and Toren Young looked great and the defense was stout. Iowa will return receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette and running back Ivory Kelly-Martin from injury.

Here’s where to find the battle for the Heartland Trophy:

Date: Saturday, Sept. 22
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Venue: Kinnick Stadium
TV: FOX
LiveStream: FOX Sports Go or FuboTV

Keys to Victory

Wisconsin just needs to return to what they do best, which is running the football over and over again. They pride themselves on doing what they do so well, it doesn’t matter that the opponent knows it’s coming, they will execute it almost perfectly. Alex Hornibrook has to be better than he was against BYU and limit mistakes. If they are able to shut down Iowa’s rushing attack, the Badgers will have a great chance to make it out of Kinnick.

For Iowa, everyone is talking about how Kinnick Voodoo is poised to strike again. For once however, Kinnick Voodoo may not be the deciding factor. This Iowa team has the potential to be as talented as some of the best in the Kirk Ferentz era. The defensive line has waited to show up the Badgers offensive line since they were beat down in Madison last November. Nate Stanley will get a shot at redemption against his home-state Badgers. If Iowa’s offense is efficient, Hawkeyes jump in the driver’s seat.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of OddsShark

Line: Wisconsin -3
Over/Under: 43.5

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Prediction

There aren’t many, if any, more intimidating environments in all of college football than Kinnick Stadium for a Saturday night game against a ranked opponent. The crowd will be as loud as Kinnick has ever seen, and the players will feed off that. Iowa vividly remembers the beat down they got in Camp Randall last November and are ready to return the favor. It won’t be a beatdown, but the Hawkeyes will bring the bull home in a nailbiter for the first time since 2015.

Final Score: Iowa 20, Wisconsin 19

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