Make no doubt about it: There is a lot on the line for the No. 9 Wisconsin Badgers (6-1 Big Ten, 9-1 overall) this Saturday in Iowa City, Iowa. In their regular season finale against the No. 17 Hawkeyes (6-1, 8-2), a possible Big Ten championship, a potential Rose Bowl berth and a newly created bull trophy will all be at stake for a Badger team seeking redemption following the woodshed beating Wisconsin received from Michigan State last weekend.
Not that the Badgers are dwelling on the thumping the Spartans handed them last Saturday. That would not be classic Wisconsin 1-0 style.
\You look at earlier games compared to that game, it's night and day, on our execution,"" senior safety Jim Leonhard said. ""It pushes in your mind, if we don't play well, that can happen. It got guys really focused on getting back to what we had to do.""
Getting back to 1-0 may be the toughest part for Wisconsin this week. Iowa is rolling, having won its last six straight, behind a stout defense and the arm of surprising freshman quarterback Drew Tate. The Hawkeyes' backfield has been decimated by injuries, losing their top four running backs. Insult was added to injury last week when sophomore running back Sam Brownlee left the Minnesota game with a sprained ankle. Brownlee, a fifth-string walk-on, leads the team in rushing yards with 204, but may not be 100 percent for game-time.
For most teams, such a challenge would prove daunting. Not for the Hawkeyes. Tate has been magnificent during Iowa's six-game tear, averaging 273 yards passing per game with 10 touchdowns to three interceptions. Even more impressive is the fact Tate has averaged 37 pass attempts per game, while no individual Hawkeye has eclipsed 52 yards rushing during said six game span. Iowa currently ranks second-to-last in rushing yards per game in the nation, averaging just more than 73 yards per game. Needless to say, Tate has been carrying the Iowa offense on his young shoulders.
The good news for the Badger defense is it will not have to worry about being run over to the tune of 430 yards rushing. But Tate is probably the most mobile and accurate passer the Badgers have faced this year. Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz has increased the use of bootlegs and designed roll-outs in the passing game to highlight Tate's strengths. While Tate can beat teams with his legs, he is at his best buying time in the pocket to find the open receiver.
""On the boots and stuff, any play where we have to contain, we better make sure to contain him,"" junior linebacker Mark Zalewski said. ""If you are in coverage, it will look like he's about to get sacked, but he'll scramble around and make a play, so we've got to stay in coverage that extra minute, because you never know what he's going to do back there.""
The stingy Iowa defense is led by senior defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux, who leads the Hawkeyes with 17.5 tackles for a loss. A deep and experienced defensive front will not make things easy for the Badger offensive attack. Iowa is No. 12 in total defense (299.4 yards per game) and sixth against the run (95.1 rushing yards per game), so Wisconsin must establish an effective ground game early and often. The running game disappeared in the second quarter with Michigan State's goal-line stand and sophomore quarterback John Stocco could not seem to complete a pass on third down. If the Badgers are forced to play catch-up again, it could be a long afternoon inside Kinnick Stadium.
Most of the attention leading up to Saturday's kickoff will focus on the winner of the annual Michigan-Ohio State game. If the Buckeyes pull off the upset, a Badger win means Wisconsin will be heading to Pasadena, a dozen long-stem roses in hand. It seems fitting the Badgers' 1-0 philosophy fits so well this week. Whoever wins, Ohio State or Michigan, it will mean nothing if Wisconsin does not emerge from Iowa City with a win.
""We've just got to take care of our business,"" Leonhard said. ""It's going to be a huge game and great atmosphere. Obviously, we are all huge Ohio State fans for the week, but we've just got to take care of what we can control.""
