This is a sneaky interesting Big Ten game to start to figure out who is really who in this conference (among the also-rans). Wisconsin has never lost to Rutgers, but last year's game in Madison (24-13) was the closest they have been, and Rutgers is probably better than it was last year. Can Wisconsin stop Rutgers' solid run game? Can Locke avoid turnovers? Will Wisconsin stick with the passing game, or attack a Rutgers run defense that doesn't look especially good?
Given their records, Rutgers needs this game to prove it really is one of the bigger kids in the Big Ten this season. Wisconsin needs the win to have a good shot at a winning season and a bowl game. Just writing that seems crazy, but it's true. The Badgers go to Northwestern before the stretch of Penn State, Oregon, and @Iowa, before finishing @Nebraska, then getting Minnesota at home. Northwestern is the only game on that list that currently feels like a comfortable win, so winning in New Jersey is all but a must.
The Badgers curb-stomped Purdue last week (only ND beat them worse), but once a game gets away, the final score probably isn't that meaningful. And while Purdue hasn't been good, Locke still threw two first half interceptions.
Rutgers has two good looking wins against Washington and VaTech, and it's one-score loss to Nebraska doesn't look bad at the moment. With upcoming games against UCLA, Maryland, and Michigan State, Rutgers looks likely to go bowling, with only their trip to USC looking especially daunting. Nonetheless, there's a successful season where you beat marquis programs, and there's a decent season where you have one big upset, and a lot of middling success. This game is important to Rutgers, too.
This is a real test for both schools--and they both really need the win. Rutgers has to be happy to have this one at home. I'm pretty damned bias, so I think Wisconsin reminds everyone why Wisconsin is a bigger name program, and comes out with a 24-20-ish win. But there are all kinds of reasons to think I'm seeing this through cardinal colored glasses.
