Looking to bounce back from last week’s 28-13 loss to Penn State, Wisconsin football will have to contend with tough road conditions in Iowa tomorrow night. Kinnick Stadium is a brutal place for the home team, especially at night. Hawkeyes beat Northwestern 40-14. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on NBC. Here’s a preview of tomorrow’s match.
The Wisconsin football defense will have a up-to-date quarterback
Tomorrow night, Iowa’s dual-threat quarterback will be on the Badger defense. Junior Brendan Sullivan relieved Cade McNamara last week after an injury sidelined him. Sullivan often played near the goal line, and his athleticism made the difference. Luke Fickell’s staff hasn’t seen Sullivan, but the veterans on this squad have from his time at Northwestern.
The Wisconsin football defense needs to force Sullivan to beat them with his hands. He hasn’t had to throw much under pressure this year, and his shoulder isn’t the best part of his game. If this defense allows the running game to get to them like it did last year, it’s going to be a long night.
Can the Badgers take Kaleb Johnson?
Iowa’s game plan is really plain. They want to start junior batsman Kaleb Johnson again and again. He already has more rushing yards (1,144) than Iowa passing the ball.
Johnson is a home run threat, but he can also run between at-bats and knock over any second-year defender. Iowa won’t hide from this. They will brave the Wisconsin front seven to stop Johnson. This has worked all year so far.
Can Wisconsin’s offense move the ball?
On the other hand, Iowa State’s defense is full of seniors who have played plenty of college football. This is a robust unit, and while they haven’t been their usual selves this year, they can still make life tough for any Big Ten opposing offense.
It’s going to be a tough night for players like Tawee Walker and Braedyn Locke. Locke has been a scoring machine this year, and Iowa State defensive coordinator Phil Parker is probably licking his legs. This could be a tough night for the Badgers offense.
Forecast
The rivalry between Iowa and Wisconsin is one of the best in the Big Ten. These games always come down to one play, one possession and one turnover. As a Big Ten fan, I always appreciate this game on the Wisconsin football schedule.
I’m taking a look at Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke and his reaction last week. He didn’t cost the match by any means, but his infirmed call at 10-7 changed the entire vigorous of the match. This is a throw you cannot and should not make. He knows it and now he will see the defense of another veteran tomorrow night.
I think this running game can only do so much. It’s just the respect you have to show the Hawkeyes defense. Braedyn Locke will need to make shots and keep an eye on the ball. Otherwise, this defense was going to be on the field all night last week.
Will Sullivan or Locke make a throw or commit a turnover? I think that’s what this game is about too. If Wisconsin had won, it would have been the best win of the Luke Fickell era. As much as I’d like to say the Badgers will bounce back, I don’t trust Locke in the second half. As I said last week, it doesn’t matter if he intercepts the ball, it matters when. Neither offense will produce many points, but the outcome of the game will be decided by a turnover for Wisconsin football.
Iowa 24 Wisconsin 20
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