Some quick thoughts on this game. First half obviously went much better for the Badgers than the second half. What was clear all night was that PSU's defensive line was kicking the Badgers' o-line's ass. The Badgers' run game was decent in the first half, but not good. But every play there was pressure on the line. The first half was exactly the kind of game the Badgers' needed to win: limit your mistakes, grind it out, and rely on a mistake here or there from PSU. The Badgers' receivers dropped some balls, but PSU had more what I would call key drops. One drive in particular, PSU went from a huge potential gain (likely 30-40 yards), to a third and long because of a drop. That kind of play hurts more than an 8-yard out pattern that didn't work out.
It was always clear that Penn State was the more complete team, which means the Badgers would need to capitalize on PSU's mistakes to have a legitimate shot to win. PSU nearly turned the ball over twice, but the bounces went their way (a dropped kick, and a mishanled QB/RB exchange). If those plays had gone the Badgers' way, they would have been in business--and the crowd, which was in a nervous, well-lubricated state, would have exploded. Instead, the nervous energy permeated the stands, then Locke threw the pick-6. Backbreaking. Sure, the Badgers could still have rallied, but they were struggling against PSU's defense all night, and in the second half, the PSU front seven had completed worn down the Badgers' front. So ten total rushing yards. Ouch. And that change in momentum--from a game the Badgers were grinding out to one that they had to come from behind in--against a team that passed the eye test of being the more complete team--was the killer.
As always, to win that kind of game, you need a couple of breaks. The Badgers didn't ever get a big one. And true to form (see prior notes), Locke gave up a bad one the other way. I'm not as down on him as some people (or my prior comments) are--he has time to grow into a much better QB--but those kinds of plays are limiting this team this season.
Iowa should be a good tilt next week. I see at least one more win for this team (best bet is between Nebraksa and Minnesota--even if both are toss-ups, odds are the Badgers get one), but the game against Iowa will really tell me whether this team has moved forward at all, or is just treading water from the last few years of mediocrity. And that's always a tough test on the road.
I was disappointed not to get my 2010 Ohio State-type win, but Camp Randall is still always a blast, and even more so for a big game under the lights. (Although I could use a little less piped in music.)
