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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Prediction: #14 Iowa 35, Arkansas State 12

Look for the Hawkeyes to get to 5-0 for the first time, since the '95 season. The Hawkeyes looked outstanding in the 21-10 upset last Saturday night at Happy Valley vs. Penn State. The conditions slowed both offenses, but the Hawkeye special teams and defense raised the bar for a Hawkeye victory.

peace

College Football Saturday: Week 5, October 3, 2009 ... Go Hawks!

Saturday, October 3rd (Printable schedule w/ DirecTV channels) Pick, cidsports Top 25 ratings

• Arkansas State at #14 Iowa, 11:00 a.m., ESPN2 (HD) - Iowa to take out Red Wolves 35-12


• Clemson at Maryland, 11:00 a.m., ESPNU (HD) - Clemson get back on track on road


• East Carolina at Marshall, 11:00 a.m., CBSC (HD) - '09 hasn't been quite like '08 for the Pirates


• Michigan at Michigan State, 11:00 a.m., BTN (HD) - Our unranked Wolverines face first road test of '09 in a big game for both the Spartans and Wolverines.


• Northwestern at Purdue, 11:00 a.m., BTN (HD) - Big game for two rebuilding Big Ten teams!


• #23 South Florida at Syracuse, 11:00 a.m., MASN / ESPN-GP / ERTV (cable) - Agree, upset alert in the Big East as South Florida travels to Syracuse to open Big East play


• Toledo at Ball State, 11:00 a.m., ESPN-GP / ERTV (cable) - Ball State isn't the same team this season... look for them to be rocketed!


• Virginia at North Carolina, 11:00 a.m., ESPN-GP *2 / Raycom (HD) *3 / online - Not been on the Tar Heel bandwagon, but they should get back to winning today, at home!


• Wisconsin at Minnesota, 11:00 a.m., ESPN (HD) - Another Big Ten team facing first road test of '09.


• #3 Alabama at Kentucky, 11:21 a.m., ESPN-GP / SEC Network *4 - Will this game be close?


• Kansas State at Iowa State (Kansas City), 2:00 p.m., FCS - DirecTV 617 / FCS Central (cable) - Here's to Cyclones picking up the first Big 12 win of the Paul Rhoades era!


• Air Force at Navy, 2:30 p.m., CBSC (HD) - Love to see rivalry football, Go Navy!


• Florida International at Louisiana-Monroe, 2:30 p.m., ESPN-GP *2 / CSS / CST - Here's to an upset on the road in Sun Belt football!


• Florida State at Boston College, 2:30 p.m., (ABC *1 / ESPN *7) (HD) / ESPN-GP *2 - Can't go against a fellow Jesuit program, who carries the banner in the FBS for us!


• #5 LSU at #12 Georgia, 2:30 p.m., CBS (HD) / Online - Visitor has lost 5 of 7 and Bulldogs won on road last year 52-38. Payback?


• New Mexico at Texas Tech, 2:30 p.m., FSN (HD) - The Red Raiders lost the last meeting in '04, but that was on the road, so Red Raiders hope to end two game losing streak today!


• North Carolina State at Wake Forest, 2:30 p.m., ESPNU (HD) - Deamon Deacons look to win four straight at home in this series!


• #20 Penn State at Illinois, 2:30 p.m., (ESPN *7 / ABC *1) (HD) - An 0-2 is not a good formula to compete with the best in the Big Ten, so one of these contenders is out after today?


• UCLA at Stanford, 2:30 p.m., ABC *1 (HD) / ESPN-GP *2 - The Bruins go for their sixth straight win in this series to continue to spoil coach Jim Harbaugh's climb.


• Washington at Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m., NBC (HD) - The Huskies are 0-7 vs. the Fighting Irish, so why am I rooting for the Huskies today?


• Western Michigan at Northern Illinois, 2:30 p.m., CSNC / ESPN-GP *2 - The other Huskies have lost three straight games in this series by a total of nine points, ouch!


• Kent State at Baylor, 6:00 p.m., FSSW - Do the Bears have a replacement for talented QB Robert Griffin, who is out of the year?


• #8 Ohio State at Indiana, 6:00 p.m., BTN (HD) - The Buckeyes look to make it 15 straight in the series, this time in Bloomington!


• Ole Miss at #22 Vanderbilt, 6:00 p.m., ESPNU (HD) - Wow, judgement day for the Rebels, since they have lost two straight games to Vandy, even at home last year 17-23.


• Oregon State at Arizona State, 6:00 p.m.. Versus (HD) - Phil Steele commented about the last visit the Beavers visited Tempe, OSU blew a 19-0 lead to fall 32-44.


• South Carolina State at South Carolina, 6:00 p.m., ESPN Classic - In '07, the Gamecocks beat the FCS-MEAC team 38-3, the only previous meeting in the series.


• Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (Arlington), 6:30 p.m., ESPN2 (HD) - A SEC-Big 12 match up in Arlington, where the Sooners lost in Week 1 in a Big 12-MWC match up, so is Arlington good for the Big 12 this year?


• #13 Georgia Tech at Mississippi State, 6:30 p.m., ESPN-GP / CSS / CST - An ACC-SEC match up in Sparksville, by the way, in this series the Bulldogs are 0-3 all-time.


• Tulsa at Rice, 6:30 p.m., CBSC (HD) - The Golden Hurricane seek to go to six of the last seven vs. Rice, including four straight on the road.


• Auburn at Tennessee, 6:45 p.m., ESPN (HD) - Two freshmen coaches in the SEC square off in Knoxsville, so something will have to give today.


• #11 Oklahoma at #10 Miami-FL, 7:00 p.m., ABC *1 (HD) / ESPN-GP *2 - The Sooners lost in Week 1 on a neutral field vs. BYU, so now the first real road test comes in South Beach, watch out!


• SMU at #17 TCU, 7:00 p.m., Mtn. - A rivalry game between the C-USA-MWC teams, which the Mustangs played spoiler in '05, after the Horned Frogs beat OU on the road to open season.


• UC Davis at #9 Boise State, 7:00 p.m., ESPN-GP / KTVB - This expected to be an ugly game on blue turf in Boise.


• #4 USC at #t25 California, 7:00 p.m., ABC *1 (HD) / ESPN-GP *2 - The Trojans are going for six straight in this series, but a setback could cost the Trojans for the first time, since '01.


• Colorado State at Idaho, 9:30 p.m., ESPNU - The Rams and the Vandels haven't met, since '92 ... the Rams lost @ BYU last week, while the Vandels beat Northern Illinois.

Games that haven't been scheduled for nationally available networks so far.

• Central Michigan at Buffalo, 2:30 p.m., TWS - A big game in the MAC this weekend, with the Chippewas hoping to take out the defending MAC game champs on the road.


• # 7 Cincinnati at Miami Ohio, 12:00 p.m., ESPN 360 - The Bearcats are off to a strong start in '09 and face battle of Ohio schools from Big East and MAC this week.


• #18 Houston at UTEP, 8:00 p.m. - This often is a very close and competitive game of late, so the Cougars must be careful hitting the road for the C-USA opener.


• Memphis at Central Florida, 2:30 p.m., BHSN - C-USA battle today ...


• New Mexico State at San Diego State, 7:00 p.m. - Another WAC-MWC game with bragging rights on the line ...


• Ohio U at Bowling Green, 3:00 p.m., BCSN - The Bobcats hope to ruin the Falcons Homecoming today!


• Temple at Eastern Michigan, 12:00 p.m. - Both head coaches promote defense, but will offense prevail for one of these MAC teams?


• Tulane at Army, 11:00 a.m., Tape delay at 10:30 p.m. on CBSC (HD) - Can the Black Knights get back in the win column today, after pulling off two straight vs. Tulane?


• UNLV at Nevada, 3:00 p.m. - Battle of MWC-WAC teams, with both teams are coming off losses and the Wolf Pack looking to get first win of the season.


• #6 Virginia Tech at Duke, 11:00 a.m., ESPN 360 - Some suggest a trap for the Hokies, but Duke has lost the last eight games in this series, with only one conference win in the past four seasons.


• Washington State at #15 Oregon, 8:15 p.m., OSN - Odd talk in Eugene about LeGarrette Blount coming back in November, if he meets certain team goals, distraction for Ducks?


• Wyoming at Florida Atlantic, 3:00 p.m. - The Owls host the Cowboys, who are 7-0 vs. current Sun Belt teams lifetime, so something will give today.

By the way, #1 Florida, #2 Texas, #16 Nebraska, #19 Oklahoma State,#24 Kansas and #t25 Missouri all idle today and will be getting ready for showdowns in Week 6. It should be a great start in October, as we witnessed some fireworks thus far in September in college football.

peace

Week 5: A couple of Friday Night Light games in College Football

Friday, October 2ND

• Pittsburgh at Louisville
  7:00 p.m.
  ESPN2 (HD)
  
• Utah State at #21 BYU
  8:00 p.m.
  Mtn.

The first Friday of the 4Th quarter and EPSPN2 and the MTN Network each have a game between Big East teams and an intra state rivalry, respectively. The Pitt Panthers took care of business last year 41-7 over Louisville, but will a road test to open the Big East slate of the season for the Panthers be a 'trap' for coach Dave Wannstedt's team?

BYU has won nine straight in this in-state series. Last year, the Cougars won on the road 34-14. The last time in Provo, it was a BYU win 38-0 in '06

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CR Washington Warriors 47, IC West High 21

The Washington Warriors take care of business at Kingston Stadium over the Iowa City West High Trojans. Nice victory and a great game for RB Andre Dawson, with over 200 yards rushing, topping the 1000 yard mark for the season and 4 TDs.

(4 Andre Dawson, picture, from previous game) Washington is now 4-2 for the season, with both losses to undefeated City High and Linn Mar.

Homecoming Victory for the Warriors tonight over Trojans! Next up: C.R. Jefferson at Kingston on 10/9. Look for Pink Jerseys for the Warriors next week!

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Warriors lead I.C. West at halftime 27-14, but what will a key injury to ...

QB Shay Gutman injured his knee on the final play of the half for Washington, where the Warriors took a 27-14 lead. The Warriors scored on all four drives of the second half. Apparently Gutman is going to make a go of it. Hopefully, the young man is not seriously hurt. The Warriors open with the ball in the 2ND half.

Go Warriors! On Homecoming '09.

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Thursday Night Football: Washington Warriors Homecoming and College Football tonight

The Cedar Rapids Washington Warriors will host Iowa City West High at Kingston Stadium on Homecoming tonight in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Warriors are coming off a 44-6 win over Kennedy last Friday night. It will be wet and cold tonight at Kingston. Go Warriors!

Thursday, October 1st in the FBS - College Football!

Colorado at West Virginia
6:30 p.m.
ESPN (HD)

Remarks: The Mountaineers look to get back on top of things after a loss in Week 3 at Auburn!

Southern Miss at UAB
7:00 p.m.
CBSC (HD)

Remarks: The Golden Eagles didn't get the upset at Kansas in Week 4. Time to get a win in Week 5 @ UAB.

peace