Badgers To Face Another Tough Defense Against Hawkeyes

The Wisconsin Badgers (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) return home to battle it out in their 102nd homecoming game, in a match-up against the Iowa Hawkeyes (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) this weekend at Camp Randall Stadium. The Hawkeyes, who are ranked 12th in the USA Today/Coaches poll and 11th in the Associated Press and the Harris poll, come in as one of only two 6-0 teams and nine undefeated schools. It will be the 85th meeting between the two schools, who will be playing for the Heartland Trophy.
The Badgers are coming off their first loss of the season, after traveling to Columbus to take on Ohio State, in a game in which they faced one of the best defenses in the country.
This week they face another tough defense as well. To start off, the Hawkeyes, have eight players returning as starters from their bowl game 31 -10  win in the Outback Bowl against South Carolina.
"That was clearly our most experienced group coming in," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said in Tuesday's Big Ten coaches teleconference. "We lost three very quality guys, but we've been able to have continuity on defense and as a group the guys have really done a nice job and played really well, played really hard."
The Hawkeyes have also forced 19 turnovers so far this season and currently lead the Big Ten in turnover margin at plus-9.
Even though they are playing another tough defense, for the second week in a row, if the Badgers can play mistake free, they have a pretty good chance to upset Iowa.
Consider what they did against Ohio State.
On offense the Badgers managed to rack up 368 total yards,  which were the most the Buckeyes have given up this season. UW's 118 rushing yards were tied with USC for the second-most by a Buckeye opponent this season. But the key factor in the game was, mistakes, two pick sixes, and a kickoff return for a touchdown.
"Anytime you give Ohio State points without their offense being on the field you're going to have problems," UW head coach Bret Bielema said after the game. 
Last year against the Hawkeyes, the Badgers were leading 14 - 9 in the third quarter, when Iowa scored 24 straight points in the Hawkeyes 38 -16 win.
This years Iowa team is a little different, though. They struggled against Iowa State, and Arkansas State, and beat Michigan by two points, despite having 5 turnovers in the game. 
Which sounds almost similar to how the Badger's season has been going so far. 
"They're a sound team, and they're really similar to us," Senior free safety Chris Maragos said. "The style of ball that they play - they have a really good, aggressive O-line, some running backs that run pretty hard, the quarterback is a good ball player, he throws a deep ball pretty well."
Sound familiar?
If the Badgers can cause Iowa to make mistakes, instead of themselves, the Badgers have a chance to come out on top over Iowa this weekend.