1. Is Joel Stave the final answer at quarterback?
Since the Badgers’ loss to Northwestern in early October, head coach Gary Andersen has been playing more of Joel Stave and less of Tanner McEvoy. In fact, the Nebraska game was the first game this season in which McEvoy did not attempt a pass.
While he still has fewer pass attempts on the season, Stave is clearly the starter for the Badgers from here on out. Still unproven as of yet, Stave will need to step up if the Badgers want to finish out their push for a Big Ten championship.
Stave has done well protecting the ball in recent weeks, throwing just one interception in five games since tossing three picks in the Northwestern loss. If he can continue to limit turnovers, a Badger win becomes so much more likely.
2. Avoiding another slow start
Although they are averaging nearly 40 points per game, the Badgers have struggled to get to a quick start this season. They’ve scored only seven first quarter touchdowns through ten games, and falling behind early in conference games can be killer.
Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes have almost doubled the Badgers’ first quarter output, scoring 13 touchdowns in the first 15 minutes so far this season. Getting an early lead will be immensely important for a Badger team built around running the ball. If they fall behind early, they’ll find themselves in more passing situations, which they have yet to perfect.
3. Gordon’s assault on the record books
Melvin Gordon’s historic performance under the lights of Camp Randall Saturday won’t soon be forgotten. His 408 rushing yards were an FBS record, surpassing LaDainian Tomlinson’s record of 406 set almost exactly 15 years prior.
With that record in the rearview mirror, Gordon can set his sights on another prestigious milestone: most rushing yards in a season. Barry Sanders’ record of 2,628 in 1988 has stood the test of time, but Gordon might just get there. If the Badgers get to the Big Ten championship game, Gordon will need to average 180 yards per game to break the record, a mark he’s already hit five times this season.
You thought that was all? Gordon can also break Montee Ball’s school record 33 rushing touchdowns in a season set back in 2011. He’ll only need 2.5 touchdowns per game to reach the record, just a hair above his average of 2.3 so far this season.
The Iowa defense has given up almost 150 rushing yards per game, ranked just sixth in the Big Ten. Gordon should be able to exploit that matchup and keep his hopes for history alive.
4. Corey Clement’s workload
This is one of the most interesting aspects of the upcoming matchup with Iowa. Melvin Gordon has carried the ball 50 times in the last two games and rushed for over 600 yards. That’s an enormous workload. Corey Clement might just be the best backup in the country, and yet he’s carried the ball only 13 times in the last two games combined.
Gordon is the primary cog in the Badgers’ high-powered offense, but he’s also not immortal. If they can build a comfortable lead, Clement should see more carries to protect Gordon from any potential injuries. He’s averaging 6.2 yards per carry this season, and can do some damage against an average Hawkeye run defense.
5. How will Iowa’s crowd affect the game?
The Hawkeyes are a much better team at home, and have been for a while. They’ve won all but one game in Iowa City this season, including an impressive 48-7 blowout of Northwestern (which suddenly looks like a much better win). The Badgers have also been tremendous at home this year, outscoring opponents 281-89, but they’ve shown some vulnerability on the road, where they are just 2-2.
Joel Stave will need to be locked in to effectively run the offense, ignoring a roaring crowd and one of the most hostile environments in the country. If he can tune out the noise and focus on communicating, the Badgers will be rolling.
The Wisconsin-Iowa matchup is one of the most hotly contested rivalries in the Big Ten, and the series is just about even. The Badgers lead the overall head-to-head 43-42-2, but the Hawkeyes will be focused against one of their biggest rivals.
