Dogs
- Thread starter NJCat83588
- Start date
We have a top defense despite inconsistent ball control. Badgers have a better defense statistically with a very good ball control offense. The field is tilted against us going into this game and we have to level it. Running the ball well is our best weapon, and we will have to be at our best. Returns have also helped us this year, and as lucky as they seem in a game, we may need some big ones this week. A freshman qb not making turnovers in Camp Randall seems like a stretch, but forcing Stave into some lob throws is not. Preseason we saw this as our least winnable game as I recall; unfortunately, despite an 8-2 record, our confidence is not much better. Hoping our team thinks otherwise.....
I expected 6 or 7. I have no problem with 10 as the best head-to-head comparison is Iowa. Who they should have beaten.
This game will determine if we're playing in Tampa/San Diego as a "Tier 1" B1G team or NYC the day after Christmas...
The UW defense sure looks formidable. It'll be a heavy lift for NU's offense to say the least. However, UW's offense lacks a running game and they are one dimensional, so the hope is a relentless NU effort can slog out a win in a low scoring & punt-filled game. Special teams and turnovers would be extra critical in such an affair.
Still not sure if Clement will play (or play effectively), but UW's OL is pretty suspect this year, so I don't know how big a difference that makes. They have an efficient passing game that lacks big play ability, which should play into the NU defensive strength.
Wisconsin's non-conference strength of schedule was rather abysmal other than Alabama (who clobbered them 35-17 in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicated). Their other non-conference games were Miami (OH), Troy and Hawaii. In another scheduling bonanza, they also managed to draw Rutgers and Maryland as their eastern division cross-over games (while NU got Michigan and Penn State).
The three like opponents to date have been:
Iowa
- NU home loss (10-40) on 10/17
- UW home loss (6-10) on 10/3
Nebraska
- NU road win (30-28) on 10/24
- UW road win (23-21) on 10/10
Purdue
- NU home win (21-14) on 11/14
- UW home win (24-7) on 10/17
The outlier was Iowa, which clearly was NU's most abysmal overall game of the season both offensively and defensively.
Other than NU playing poorly in the games, Michigan and Iowa have in common run-stuffing and dominant overall defenses that can make you one (or zero) dimensional. Wisconsin has that. However, Michigan and Iowa both had offensive balance including effective running games against NU (and most of their opponents). Wisconsin has the former on defense (gulp), but lacks the latter on offense (hope).
NU's got to play its best game of the season to give themselves a chance to win the game in the 4th quarter. It would be nice if Wisconsin decides to turn in a stinker performance coming off their bye week.
On paper, UW looks like a 10+ point favorite, but their inability to establish the running game in their games even against mediocre or poor defenses makes them vulnerable when they run into a great pass defense, which NU has.
I'm glad the game is not played on paper, and I will expect the unexpected.
Still not sure if Clement will play (or play effectively), but UW's OL is pretty suspect this year, so I don't know how big a difference that makes. They have an efficient passing game that lacks big play ability, which should play into the NU defensive strength.
Wisconsin's non-conference strength of schedule was rather abysmal other than Alabama (who clobbered them 35-17 in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicated). Their other non-conference games were Miami (OH), Troy and Hawaii. In another scheduling bonanza, they also managed to draw Rutgers and Maryland as their eastern division cross-over games (while NU got Michigan and Penn State).
The three like opponents to date have been:
Iowa
- NU home loss (10-40) on 10/17
- UW home loss (6-10) on 10/3
Nebraska
- NU road win (30-28) on 10/24
- UW road win (23-21) on 10/10
Purdue
- NU home win (21-14) on 11/14
- UW home win (24-7) on 10/17
The outlier was Iowa, which clearly was NU's most abysmal overall game of the season both offensively and defensively.
Other than NU playing poorly in the games, Michigan and Iowa have in common run-stuffing and dominant overall defenses that can make you one (or zero) dimensional. Wisconsin has that. However, Michigan and Iowa both had offensive balance including effective running games against NU (and most of their opponents). Wisconsin has the former on defense (gulp), but lacks the latter on offense (hope).
NU's got to play its best game of the season to give themselves a chance to win the game in the 4th quarter. It would be nice if Wisconsin decides to turn in a stinker performance coming off their bye week.
On paper, UW looks like a 10+ point favorite, but their inability to establish the running game in their games even against mediocre or poor defenses makes them vulnerable when they run into a great pass defense, which NU has.
I'm glad the game is not played on paper, and I will expect the unexpected.
Wisky's losses were to tough teams, but as MRCat95 points out, they don't have any wins as good as Stanford, PSU or even Duke. They've accomplished nothing that should scare us.
Exactly. Why NU 'fans" "like it" when they are big dogs is just plain dumb. I wish the Cats were 10 to 15 point favorites in every game and play like it.