Fifth Quarter Consensus: Badgers get tripped up in Iowa City

GameDay Coverage: B5Q will once again be live on the road in Iowa City, Iowa. Our LIVE GAME THREAD will open at 12:30 p.m. CT.

And as always, be sure to follow @B5Q on Twitter all day long for the latest updates before, during and after the game.

The Predictions

Jake Harris (6-1, +109): Iowa 31, Wisconsin 24

Adam Tupitza (6-1, +131): Wisconsin 27, Iowa 23

John Veldhuis (6-1, +131): Iowa 28, Wisconsin 21

Adam Hoge (5-2, +126): Iowa 24, Wisconsin 20

Phil Mitten (3-2, +77): Iowa 21, Wisconsin 20

The Reasoning

There's plenty of evidence to suggest that Wisconsin really is the team we thought could win the Big Ten and maybe even go to a BCS bowl game. The Badgers just beat the No. 1 team in the country and is still 6-1 overall. And in UW's one loss, they were only one stop away from getting a chance to drive down the field for a win despite playing a very poor football game.

Are the Badgers peaking right now? It's better if they aren't. The best teams continue to get better every week and if Wisconsin was able to do that this week, then they have a very good shot at going to Iowa and beating the Hawkeyes.

Still, there's more evidence pointing to a Wisconsin loss this week than a Wisconsin win. Iowa is a very good football team that is 14-1 in its last 15 home games. Bret Bielema finally got his signature win last week, but he still only has one victory on the road against Big Ten teams that finished with plus-.500 record overall.

I expect the Badgers to play much better than they did in East Lansing, Mich. but I'm not sure it will be enough. The Hawkeyes are going to be very focused, knowing the Rose Bowl goes through Iowa City. The game features one of the best matchups across the country Saturday as Wisconsin's talented offensive line takes on Iowa's talented defensive line.

The Badgers O-line might actually have a small advantage there and that will keep the game close, but in the end, the intangibles in Iowa City point to a win for the Hawkeyes.

Who has the edge?

Offense: Even

Defense: Iowa

Special teams: Even

Coaching: Even

Intangibles: Iowa