Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Joe Schobert brings down Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard for a sack. Jim Oxley photo
Will Iowa Stumble?
This one’s not really about the Badgers.
Betsided
Iowa can win the Big Ten West Division and secure a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game with one win over its next two games. The Hawkeyes have a home game this weekend against the 2-8 (1-5 B1G) Purdue Boilermakers and close the season next Friday with an afternoon game at Nebraska.
It is college football and anything can happen, but to think Iowa will lose both of these games is highly unlikely. The team knows a loss not only jeopardizes their chances at making the Big Ten Championship, but also pretty much eliminates them from the College Football Playoff discussion.
Even if the Hawkeyes won the Big Ten West with one loss and then won the Big Ten Championship game, it’s unlikely they would be included in the final top four. The Hawkeyes need to stay undefeated to have a shot, and they will be plenty focused heading into the final two games of their schedule.
Wisconsin’s only remaining path to the Big Ten Championship is with wins over Northwestern and Minnesota and Iowa completely falling apart and losing its final two games. That’s highly unlikely, so it looks like the Badgers will be playing for wins these final two weeks to improve their chances at a good bowl game.
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