Iowa vs. Wisconsin CFN Prediction

**AirWalke** · 09-19-2007, 09:33 AM

Normally, you guys wouldn't care, but I just thought this preview was uncharacteristically harsh towards ISU, especially for CFN.

Iowa (2-1) at Wisconsin (3-0) 8:00 PM GamePlan
Why to Watch: Will the real Wisconsin please stand up? Considered by many to be a top five team at the start of the year, a shaky performance in a 20-13 win over UNLV started to cause a little national skepticism, and then an awful defensive first half against Citadel, in a 45-31 win, has put the team on notice that it needs to start showing something more to earn the lofty status. If this really is a team worthy of winning the Big Ten title, going to the BCS, and possibly making a sleeper run at a national title shot, this is a game it has to win in a walk. Iowa is coming off a 15-13 gaffe to a horrible Iowa State team, and now needs a big redemption game to show that the rivalry loss was a fluke. This has been an unpredictably bizarre series over the last few years, with Iowa winning four of the last five meetings. Wisconsin won last year in Iowa City despite not having starting QB John Stocco. The Hawkeyes won in Madison in 2005, ruining Barry Alvarez's final home game, and ruined UW's chance to go to the Rose Bowl in 2004 with a 30-7 win.
Why Iowa Might Win: The defense has been playing at another level, allowing six field goals and no touchdowns. The run defense has been a brick wall over the first three games, thanks to a defensive line that's destroying offensive lines with a combination of speed and quickness at all four spots. The Wisconsin offensive line isn't great against athletic defensive fronts, and it'll have a nightmare of a time keeping QB Tyler Donovan clean. Iowa will stuff more than its share of drives with a sack or a big tackle for loss.
Why Wisconsin Might Win: Wisconsin's running game is just a wee step up in production from what Iowa has faced so far. You and three friends could stop the running games of Northern Illinois, Syracuse and Iowa State. If the Badgers get up by any appreciable lead, it's over. Iowa's offensive line is young, inconsistent, and needs a lot of time. QB Jake Chrstensen is a good one, but he's not given much time to breathe and doesn't have any receiving weapons to work with.
Who to Watch: It'll be this simple: Who'll win the battle between the UW offensive line and the Iowa defensive line. Hawkeye DE Ken Iwebama has returned to his preinjury form, terrorizing backfield as one of the Big Ten's premier pass rushers. Bryan Mattison might be the league's quickest tackle, and he's fantastic at blowing up running plays before they hit the line. Wisconsin will try to man up and pound the ball with P.J. Hill, but it'll also try to get Donovan on the move on the outside. Donovan filled in last year for Stocco, and threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 61 yards, in Iowa City. He has to be on early with his receivers, or the Hawkeyes will bring the house to stop Hill.
What Will Happen: Wisconsin's defense will finally show up and stuff the Iowa offense, but Hill and the running game aren't going to rumble until late. This game is on Donovan, and while he'll take five sacks, he'll also beat the Iowa secondary for two touchdown passes. UW TE Travis Beckum will have a huge day.
CFN Prediction: Wisconsin 24 ... Iowa 16 ... Line: Wisconsin -7.5
Must See Rating: (5 Curb Your Enthusiasm - 1 Kid Nation) ... 3.5

**HILLCYD** · 09-19-2007, 09:34 AM

My pick, Badgers by 17.

**keepngoal** · 09-19-2007, 10:22 AM

ouch.

-keep

**mj4cy** · 09-19-2007, 10:22 AM

Wisky 42
Iowa 13

suck on that hawkeyes!

**cycloneG** · 09-19-2007, 10:26 AM

Predicting Iowa to get 5 sacks when they couldn't get one against ISU makes this entire prediction suspect. Do they actually watch football games at CFN or just throw at a dart board? This article is a waste of space on whatever server is hosting it.

**neo** · 09-19-2007, 10:27 AM

412 to 7, Badgers, I hope.

**thakeepa14** · 09-19-2007, 10:32 AM

If you've never had the chance to be in Madison the weekend of Wisc/EIU game, Wisconsin really enjoys kicking around the black and gold bumblebees. The badgers have played horrible but nothing like a rivalry game to wake them up. 'Consin will take the game seriously and I'm predicting a whooping, EIU is just out of their league.

Wisconsin 33, EIU 3

**Wx4Cy** · 09-19-2007, 10:47 AM

OK, I was going to try to do something with a bunch of IFs and WHAT IFs scenarios but it started to look like some old Visual Basic code so I gave up.

**rd4isu** · 09-19-2007, 10:54 AM

As much as I hate to say it, this game will be close with Iowa having a good chance to win. Iowa's schemes are set up perfectly to stop a Wisconsin type team. Wisconsin looks to be the most overrated team in the top 10 by a long shot and are ripe for an "upset".

**Drive4cy** · 09-19-2007, 11:03 AM

Wisconsin is not good IMO. Had they been playing in Ames last Saturday instead of Iowa, the same result would have occured. Iowa basically owns Wisconsin in recent history and you would think after last weekend they will be ready to play. As much as I'd like to see Iowa get rolled on a big stage, I can't see it happening.

**MNclone** · 09-19-2007, 11:04 AM

CFN has been complete garbage since they sold out last year. They used to provide some decent insight and humor, but I think they lost a number of their writers in the transition.
That being said, I’m pretty sure they have a Hawkeye Homer writing their predictions and analysis of the Big 11 games. If you look at the preview for last week’s victory, you will see the game referred to as Iowa State’s “Super Bowl”. No one in the country would make such a ridiculous statement unless they were a hawk fan.
This is just more of the same old crap.

**SuperCy** · 09-19-2007, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by neo

412 to 7, Badgers, I hope.

Now, is that with tiny Mike Ditkas or regular size Mike Ditkas?

**SplitIdentity** · 09-19-2007, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by rd4isu

As much as I hate to say it, this game will be close with Iowa having a good chance to win. Iowa's schemes are set up perfectly to stop a Wisconsin type team. Wisconsin looks to be the most overrated team in the top 10 by a long shot and are ripe for an "upset".

Agreed. UW is extremely overrated, and their 13 game winning streak comes against the likes of IU, Purdue, NU, The Citadel, etc...

They haven't beaten a ranked team outside of Arkansas since 2005.

**erikbj** · 09-19-2007, 11:24 AM

Hawks wake up and win 16-12.

**Steve** · 09-19-2007, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Agreed. UW is extremely overrated, and their 13 game winning streak comes against the likes of IU, Purdue, NU, The Citadel, etc...

They haven't beaten a ranked team outside of Arkansas since 2005.

Yeah, that Bielema guy must really suck. He's only 15-1 as a head coach with the only loss being a competitive game to a tough Mich team in the big house. KF has gone 8-8 in the same period. As much as I don't respect him for his attack on Walden, he has been a tremendous coach and recruiter at iowa, ksu, & wisky. He has assembled an outstanding staff at wisky led by 2 top level coordinators.

I look for iowa's offensive to continue to struggle against a tough D whose smallest starter is 196 lbs. Iowa's D might keep it close, but wisky has the advantage in talent, coaching, and home field.