Okay, this game is a ways off still, so let's play two hypotheticals in fantasy land.
1) If Wisconsin somehow upsets Ohio State in Columbus tomorrow night, what are they ranked when we stroll into Madison? We have not beaten a top 25 team on the road in back-to-back seasons since 1993 (at #13 Michigan) and 1994 (at #17 Ohio State)!
2) If we somehow upset Wisconsin in Madison the following weekend, how many fans buy tickets for our October 8th game vs. Iowa? Here are our numbers so far, along with our highest attendance last year:
37,832 vs. Wyoming (3:00 pm)
33,669 vs. Virginia (3:00 pm)
37,579
vs. Chattanooga (Thursday)
Last year: 41,064 vs. Nebraska (12:00 pm)
We would theoretically be 4-1 (1-1) with a historic rival coming to town for a beautiful fall day for (what is apparently) an "Orange Out" game, and it will be our best chance to snap the losing streak vs. them in YEARS. I would not count out Iowa bringing a good 5,000 to 7,000 fans, either (apparently we brought over 3,000 to Bloomington on a Friday night). The only other better Big Ten matchup that day is Ohio State at Michigan State, and that will likely get the 11:00 am FOX slot, so I could definitely see us getting a 2:30 pm game time, too! Either way, I expect it to be one of our better crowds in years, but here would be my prediction:
If we lose to Wisconsin: 44,500
If we beat Wisconsin: 52,500