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Wisconsin hopes to avoid fifth straight loss to Iowa

Nov 7, 2006 - 9:50 PM No. 16 Wisconsin (9-1) at Iowa (6-4), 12:00 pm EST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (Ticker) - The Wisconsin-Iowa series may be the most closely contested rivalry in Big Ten Conference history, but try telling that to the Badgers.

The 16th-ranked Badgers try to snap a four-game skid against the Hawkeyes when they meet on Saturday in Iowa's home finale.

Iowa leads the 81-game series by a narrow 40-39-2 margin, but the Hawkeyes have won the past four encounters, including last year's 20-10 triumph in Madison.

This will be the third year that the Heartland Trophy will be presented to the winner.

Wisconsin (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) has looked impressive since a 27-13 loss at Michigan on September 23, winning six straight games.

In last Saturday's 13-3 home win over Penn State, Badgers redshirt freshman running back P.J. Hill gained 148 yards on 31 carries. He leads the Big Ten and is fifth nationally in rushing at 137 yards per game, and has scored 13 touchdowns.

Iowa (6-4, 2-4) has been a big disappointment this season, losing three of its past four games to slip to seventh in the conference standings.

Last week, the Hawkeyes were stunned by last-place Northwestern here, 21-7. Drew Tate threw for just 147 yards with two interceptions - one at the goal line - in the defeat.