Iowa at Wisconsin in Big Ten play on Saturday in deadlocked series at 41 and 41

Who will get to +1 in the Iowa-Wisconsin series this weekend. Both teams have won 41 games each in this series. Another Big Ten trophy game is up in Madison on Saturday. Kickoff is at 11 am on ESPN.

Who carries off the Trophy tomorrow?

Big Ten Scoring Offense/Defense to date in conference play:

• Iowa (2-0) 25.5 on offense; 19.0 on defense


• Wisconsin (2-1) 27.3 on offense; 29.7 on defense


• Best offense Iowa has faced: Michigan; best defense Iowa has faced: Penn State


• Best offense UW has faced: Minnesota; best defense UW has faced: Ohio State

It's a little strange to watch the Big Ten Network talk about Turnover Margin in favor of the Badgers, because when you throw out the OOC and look at Big Ten conference games, which is what really matters for the Hawkeyes, Badgers and nine other Big Ten teams.

• Iowa is #1 in the Big Ten in Turnover Margin at a +3


• Wisconsin is +0.67 after three games vs. Michigan State, @ Minnesota and @ OSU


• While Wisconsin was better in the OOC in Turnover Margin, QB Scott Tolzien is at 3 interceptions, as does Iowa's QB Ricky Stanzi, who is at 3 as well


• Wisconsin has fumbled the ball more than Iowa in '09

Pass Efficiency is an interesting statistic on offense and defense.

• Iowa's defense is #1 in pass efficiency, while the offense is #9 in the conference


• Wisconsin's defense is #9 in pass efficiency, while offense is #5 in the conference


• So, it appears it is weakness vs. weakness, while Iowa is on offense


• It may be Iowa's strength, to a UW passing attack that has improved over '08, but just how far have they come

Iowa has the second longest winning streak in FBS. #1 Florida has the longest winning streak in FBS right now. Iowa has won 2 of the last 3 games in Madison, though UW beat Iowa 17-13 in '07. Iowa lost 7-27 in '07 at Penn State. This season, the Hawkeyes picked up a big victory 21-10 in Happy Valley. Iowa enters the game 2-0 on the season in road game. The Hawkeyes beat rival Iowa State in Ames 35-3 this season to win the Cy-Hawk series trophy. Can Iowa keep the win streak going this weekend in Madison?

Ringing up the First Downs in conference play.

• Wisconsin leads the Big Ten on offense in First Downs


• Iowa leads the Big Ten on defense in allowing the fewest First Downs per game


• Wisconsin's defense ranks fifth, while Iowa's offense ranks 10Th


• Wisconsin ran up some outstanding stats in Columbus last weekend on offense and the defense was favorable. But, UW lost to OSU 13-31 fueled by Pick 6s and allowing a special teams touchdown

The Red Zone is always on the mind of coordinators and measuring production of teams.

• Wisconsin's offense ranks #6, while the defense ranks #5 in the conference


• Iowa's offense ranks #8, while the defense ranks #9


• Iowa's defense gave up their first rushing touchdowns of the season vs. Michigan last week


• It will be an interesting chess match between rivals Kirk Ferentz and Bret Bielema, who served under Ferentz as an assistant at Iowa before moving onto Kansas State

There are some very good conference performers who are expected to take the field on Saturday in Madison.

• #1 rusher RB John Clay for Wisconsin; Iowa's RB Adam Robinson ranks #5


• Wisconsin TE Garrett Graham is an outstanding senior; while Iowa's senior TE Tony Moeaki has had two outstanding games this season, including national honors as the top TE performer for Week 6, in helping lead Iowa to a 27-25 win over Michigan


• Iowa's WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos enters the game as the top WR statistically


• The battle of a pair of junior QBs will feature Iowa's Ricky Stanzi, who has been down, with 3 Pick 6s this season, but still has lead Iowa to a 6-0 record thus far. UW's Scott Tolzien is in his first season as a starter for the Badgers and has them 5-1 at this point, after a 3-3 mark in '08


• Iowa PK Daniel Murray leads the conference in scoring and tied for #1 in field goals made


• Iowa PR Colin Sandeman is #1 in punt returning


• Iowa LBs Pat Angerer and Jeremiha Hunter are 1-2 in tackles, while third LB AJ Edds is also among the Top 20 in the conference in tackles.


• Wisconsin freshman LB Mike Taylor leads the Badgers and is #23 in the conference


• Wisconsin DE O'Brien Schofield is #1 in sacks and tackles for loss in the conference


• Iowa has several player makers on defense forcing fumbles and picking up INTs


• Iowa DE Broderick Binns is among the top defenders in the conference breaking up passes from is defensive line position with his long arms

Special teams will be an interesting area to watch in Madison on Saturday. Iowa's success under Kirk Ferentz has been fueled pretty heavily over the past ten plus years with strong special teams. Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema takes the role personally with the Badger special teams. This area of the game could be huge in determining the outcome of the game. Iowa has fueled both wins in the Big Ten with better field position than their opponents.

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