Four Reasons Iowa’s Football Team Will Defeat the Wisconsin Badgers in Week 8 2
Iowa won at Wisconsin in 2009.
When Iowa meets Wisconsin on Saturday fans will witness two highly skilled Big Ten teams with almost identical mindsets, the same coaching philosophy, and similar styles of play.
The two teams meet on the playing field in Iowa City at a crucial juncture in the season. The outcome of this game will shape their football fortunes for 2010––in the Big Ten and, perhaps, upon the more prominent BCS national stage.
This year both teams remain in contention for the Big Ten title, each with one loss––although Iowa has not lost to a Big Ten opponent. The Badgers fell to Michigan State in Week 5 in East Lansing.
This is a must-win game for both teams heading into the heart of the Big Ten season.
Although Iowa and Wisconsin are very similar, their differences will be revealed on Saturday as Iowa tries to capitalize on the advantages the Hawkeyes hold over their worthy rivals.
Iowa’s success will materialize from the following:
Key 1: Iowa’s Defensive Line Rules Wisconsin’s Offensive Line.
Iowa's Adrian Clayborn is not easily contained.
For the Badgers to win against Iowa, Wisconsin must flatten Iowa’s front four on defense.
That means overpowering DE Adrian Clayborn, DE Broderick Binns, DT Christian Ballard and DT Karl Klug.
Keeping Iowa’s awesome foursome down long enough so that Wisconsin’s power running backs John Clay and James White can work their magic on the scoreboard will fall squarely on the shoulders of the Badger offensive line.
Wisconsin must establish the running game to have any hope of winning this football game on the road in Iowa City.
But Iowa ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten in rushing defense. They may, in fact, have the top overall defense in the country.
This will prove to be the ultimate test for the Badger’s big boys up front on the offensive line––senior left guard John Moffitt, senior left tackle Gabe Carimi, sophomore center Peter Konz, junior right guard Kevin Zeitler and sophomore right tackle Ricky Wagner as they try to blaze a path for their vaunted running backs.
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