Iowa vs Wisconsin Game Preview: Week 9 NCAA Football Game Of The Week
This game is going to come down to whether Wisconsin’s offense performs against a top defense in the nation. If Graham Mertz wants to prove to NFL scouts that he is capable of playing at the next level, he needs to ball out. However, during the season Mertz has thrown for only 893 yards while completing around 55% of his passes. This is what Iowa corners Matt Hankins and Riley Moss love to see. Most importantly, Hankins and Moss come into this game graded as two of the top corners in the nation by Pro Football Focus.
Players who are NFL hopefuls
Wisconsin
Graham Mertz – QB
Jack Sanborn – LB
Jake Ferguson – TE
Leo Chenal – LB
Keeanu Benton – IDL
Logan Bruss – OT
Iowa
Tyler Linderbaum – C
Matt Hankins – CB
Jack Campbell – LB
Riley Moss – CB
Sam LaPorta – TE
Tyler Goodson – RB
Zach VanValkenburg – EDGE
Kyler Schott – G
Key Players:
Wisconsin
Graham Mertz
Although Graham Mertz has struggled so far this season, he still has a lot of talent that he can put on display. But, in order for him to do this, he has to avoid the dynamic duo in Iowa’s secondary. I think that Mertz’s primary target going into this game has to be Jake Ferguson. However, Moss or Hankins will proabably not be lined up on the inside to guard Ferguson.
Jack Sanborn
Jack Sanborn continues to improve as the season goes on. He is a very good plug and play player. Wherever he is at on the field and whatever his assignment is, it seems he always gets the job done. If Wisconsin wants to stop Iowa from scoring as much as usual, Sanborn needs to have a big presence. Therefore, Sanborn needs to get past the Iowa O-Line, put pressure on Petras and stop Goodson in his tracks.
Iowa
Matt Hankins
Hankins has been one of the most productive corners in college football all year. As I noted earlier when I talked about Mertz, Hankins needs to pick him apart the entire game. He also needs to have a strong presence stopping the running game as well. Even though Iowa’s defensive line is one of the best in the nation, Wisconsin’s offensive line can be hard to break down. In short, it will be strength vs. strength in the trenches.
Zach VanValkenburg
VanValkenburg is going to have a tough assignment this week getting past the notorious Wisconsin O-Line. With that being said, being lined up against some of the best offensive linemen in the nation is not new to him. Against Penn St. a few weeks ago, he lined up opposite Rasheed Walker many times throughout the game. Although he did not record any sacks in that game, he pressured the quarterback plenty.
Tyler Goodson
In order for Iowa to be unpredictable, they need to be effective when running and passing the ball. As we have seen throughout the season, Petras can be very inconsistent. If Petras is having one of those rough games, Goodson needs to step up and make plays. Goodson has only averaged 4.3 yards per carry this season. However, he shows a lot of potential when running the ball. Therefore, he may be able to run for over 100 yards.
Team Overview
Wisconsin
It is safe to say that Wisconsin has had a very disappointing season so far. Many people (indcluding me) thought that Graham Mertz was going to have a very productive year. In order for Wisconsin to have a chance to win this game, Mertz needs to show that he has improved. On the other side of the ball, linebackers Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal need to have a big presence. Another player that needs to step up that I have not mentioned yet is Kendric Pryor. Pryor is likely going to be guarded by Hankins and, as we know, that is a tough matchup.
Iowa
Coming into this game, Iowa is expected to win this game with ease. If I am Iowa though, I would not underestimate Wisconsin’s talent. The biggest thing Iowa needs to focus on is their offense and more specifically Petras. If Petras increases his production and Goodson continues to play how he has, Iowa should have no problems. Even though their offense is a bigger worry than their defense, they can’t be too relaxed on that side of the ball.
