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Wisconsin Football: Grading the difficulty of the Badgers’ 2017 schedule

By Trevor Jossart

Oct 1, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Wilton Speight (3) drops back to pass in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 14-7. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Wilton Speight (3) drops back to pass in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 14-7. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Saturday, November 11: vs. Iowa Hawkeyes

Difficulty: 6

Since 2009, the road team has won every game in this series, which makes it seem like the difficulty of this game should be higher, considering it is at home.

The last two meetings between the two have been a typical Wisconsin-Iowa Big Ten slugfest, with both times the winner not needing more than 10 points to win. In 2015, the Hawkeyes stunned Joel Stave and the Badgers in Madison thanks to a couple costly errors by the Badgers, winning 10-6 en route to their Big Ten West crown. Last year, the Badgers were able to hold on to a 17-9 victory in Iowa City. The last time Iowa has beaten Wisconsin at home was 2004.

Oct 22, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers tight end Troy Fumagalli (81) stretches out the football for the Badger touchdown against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers tight end Troy Fumagalli (81) stretches out the football for the Badger touchdown against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

So, what are the expectations for this season’s meeting in Madison? Who knows. The Badgers and Hawkeyes are fresh off seasons where many thought the roles would be reversed. Iowa struggled after beginning the year ranked and expected by many to win the division again, while the Badgers were unranked and overlooked.

No matter what the experts say or what rankings tell us, this rivalry game usually comes down to the last few possessions and as the series indicates (Wisconsin leads 45-43), there usually is not much separation between the two on the football field.