The Wisconsin Badgers are currently three-point underdogs against the Iowa Hawkeyes, but could pull off the upset victory at Kinnick Stadium.
The Badgers are traveling to Iowa City this weekend to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in a night game that should draw a massive crowd. Wisconsin is coming off of a difficult loss to the Penn State Nittany Lions that felt like it should have been a win at times. Regardless, Wisconsin dropped another ranked game this season in a game that is not the worse loss in the world.
Wisconsin is eager to right the ship and win more games this season to soothe the concerns of both the players and the fans. A win over Iowa would be great momentum heading into the biggest game of the season against the top-ranked Oregon Ducks. With the game in Madison, a win away from home against the Hawkeyes will provide a morale boost ahead of the home clash against the Ducks.
Wisconsin Badgers Must Stop Running Back Kaleb Johnson to Win
Iowa is a team in a similar position as the Wisconsin Badgers, with a 5-3 record and an offense that continues to produce inconsistent outputs. The Hawkeyes have improved over an abysmal offensive season in 2023 and it is largely thanks to one man Wisconsin must stop.
Running back Kaleb Johnson was a contributor on offense for the Hawkeyes over the past two seasons but has truly broken out this year. Johnson currently has 146 carries for 1,144 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns, along with one receiving touchdown. The running back had previously exceeded 140 carries but never found the end zone for the Hawkeyes like he has this season.
It takes an army to stop Johnson as his worst performance of the year still saw the running back record 86-yards rushing and one touchdown. The Wisconsin Badgers are going to need to utilize both the safeties and the linebackers to take Johnson down, as the nearly 230-pound running back is too big for a cornerback to take down alone. If Wisconsin cannot at least limit Johnson, it could be a very long day for the Badgers defense.
Wisconsin Badgers Must Utilize a Balanced Attack on Offense
The Iowa Hawkeyes defense is a talented unit, but also an interesting one this season. Senior linebacker Jay Higgins is the heart and soul of the defense, leading the team in tackles by nearly 30 more than the next closest player. Higgins does it all for the defense, with three interceptions, one sack, and two forced fumbles.
The Hawkeyes’ defense has recorded 19 sacks, 10 interceptions, and seven forced fumbles this season, proving to be a strong unit. However, every defense has a weak point and for the Hawkeyes, it has been the secondary. Outside of top cornerback Quinn Schulte, the Hawkeyes do not have a great coverage secondary, and even Schulte is not the best defender in coverage either.
The Wisconsin Badgers will need to display a balanced attack on offense against the Hawkeyes in order to pull off a win knowing this information. The Hawkeyes are going to attack on defense and try to allow one of their sack leaders to get the job done. If the Wisconsin Badgers can get the ball out quickly to start and force Iowa to respect the pass, it could be the easiest way to wear down the defense.
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