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This is a big game. Sure Penn State and Minnesota are both undefeated and Alabama and LSU are, well, Alabama and LSU, but Wisconsin vs. Iowa is always a big game for those of us here in Wisconsin and in the lesser state to our south-west.
The No. 13 Wisconsin Badgers (6-2 overall, 3-2 B1G) are set to defend the Heartland Trophy against the No. 18 Iowa Hawkeyes (6-2 overall, 3-2 B1G) Saturday afternoon. The winner of this game still has a path to winning the B1G West division. The loser...is out of contention.
The Iowa team managers snapped a long losing streak to Wisconsin tonight going for 2 and the win late...Is this a sign of what's to come tomorrow? Badgers have won 3 straight and 6 of 7. @nacholeber and I get it going #Hawkeyes and #Badgers 3:30 ET on @westwood1sports https://t.co/fNUPx8D7nN
— Jason Horowitz (@HorowitzJason) November 9, 2019
The Badgers should be out for blood for all the reasons listed above but also because the Wisconsin football managers lost to the Iowa football managers on a controversial two-point conversion in double OT.
And Iowa completes the controversial two point conversion for the 20-19 win
— Wisconsin Equipment (@UWequipment) November 9, 2019
Anywho, this is going to be a battle of two excellent defenses and two sometime competent offenses. If Jonathan Taylor can get going early and Jack Coan can maybe (hopefully) complete a pass of longer than 20 yards in the first quarter, I think the Badgers will win handily. If neither of those things happen...well, we’ll be in for a tense afternoon.
How to watch/listen
TV: FOX, 3:00 p.m. CT, Tim Brando, Spencer Tillman, Coley Harvey
Streaming: FOX Sports app; FOXSports.com
Radio: Badger Sports Network (iHeartRadio), Satellite: Sirius 83 or XM 83, Matt Lepay, Mike Lucas, Mark Tauscher, Patrick Herb
Stadium: Camp Randall Stadium
Weather: Madison, Wisconsin
Line: Wisconsin -8.5
Fun facts (according to the media guides)
- Under Paul Chryst, Wisconsin is 11-2 following a loss.
- Over the last five years, Wisconsin owns a record of 17-3 in games played in the month of November.
- With 92 all-time meetings, Iowa is Wisconsin’s third most-played rival. Wisconsin leads the series, 47-43-2 overall.
- Wisconsin has won six of its last seven meetings with Iowa, dating to 2010.
- Wisconsin holds a 8-5 lead in the series since the Heartland Trophy debuted in 2004.
- From 1977 to 1996, Wisconsin was 0-17-1 against Iowa. Woof.
- UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez began his college coaching career as linebackers coach at Iowa from 1979-86 under head coach Hayden Fry, who hired Alvarez after he led Mason City High School to the Iowa Class 4A state title in 1978.
- Alvarez and Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz worked together as assistants under Fry from 1981-86.
- Iowa K Keith Duncan is tied for first in the country with 19 field goals made. He is 19-of-22 on field goal attempts and 18-of-18 on PAT attempts.
- Iowa has 15 players on their roster from Wisconsin: QB Nate Stanley, Menomonie HS (Menomonie, Wis.); RB Toren Young, Monona Grove HS (Madison, Wis.); FB Joe Ludwig, Middleton HS (Middleton, Wis.); WR Max Cooper, Catholic Memorial HS (Waukesha, Wis.); OL Jack Plumb, Bay Port HS (Wis.); LB Kristian Welch, Iola-Scandinavia HS (Iola, Wis.); DL Daviyon Nixon, Indian Trail HS (Kenosha, Wis.); K Lucas Amaya, Muskego HS (Muskego, Wis.); P Ryan Gersonde, Marquette University HS (Milwaukee, Wis.); DB Thomas Hartlieb, Edgewood (Madison, Wis.); OL Cody Ince, Unity HS (Luck, Wis.); DL Jake Karchinski, De Pere West (De Pere, Wis.); TE Tommy Kujawa, Greendale HS (Greendale, Wis.); FB Johny Plewa Franklin HS (Franklin, Wis.); LB Mike Timm, Kettle Moraine HS (Delafield, Wis.)
- Wisconsin has zero players on their roster from Iowa. Duh.