CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: SFBadger96 on October 11, 2024, 03:00:11 PM
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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.
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This is a sneaky interesting Big Ten game to start to figure out who is really who in this conference
I initially read this as "who is really in the conference", which is also a fair question
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Rutgers 26, Wisconsin 17
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FWIW, the line is Rutgers -2, so the people with skin in the game think this is a close one.
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Wisconsin 20
Rutgers 17
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FWIW, the line is Rutgers -2, so the people with skin in the game think this is a close one.
I think this is the big test as to whether losing TVD is actually a good thing. I do, and I did when they paid him. But I think Rutgers at home is a PITA
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I think this is the big test as to whether losing TVD is actually a good thing. I do, and I did when they paid him. But I think Rutgers at home is a PITA
People don't realize that TVD played hurt in 2022 and 2023. He was worth taking a chance on IMO.
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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.
1. I think Wisconsin will pound the rock and use play action to open up the field for Kekahuna and Pauling. Need to get some TE action too.
2. Same. I was in my early 30's when UW missed its last bowl game.
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'95 and '01 are the only seasons since Barry got the Badgers to his first bowl game, for the 1993 season.
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Yep.
After the 1999 and 2000 Rose Bowls, Barry swung for the fences in recruiting. He didn't get plan A's or plan B's, he so ended up with a lot of Plan C's.
That hurt.
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I am not excited about this game. If Wisconsin win, it shows that the group is potentially tougher than they have shown early.
If they lose, it will just be a god-awful experience
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If they lose, it will just be a god-awful experience
Agreed.
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SEC speed!
https://twitter.com/RAanalytics/status/1844861575749894485?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1844861575749894485%7Ctwgr%5E4bddca044664256edfabad344ce7682e5f0e7418%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2F247sports.com%2Fcollege%2Fwisconsin%2Fboard%2F23%2Fcontents%2Ftweets-144988831%2F%3Fpage%3D1 (https://twitter.com/RAanalytics/status/1844861575749894485?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1844861575749894485|twgr^4bddca044664256edfabad344ce7682e5f0e7418|twcon^s1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2F247sports.com%2Fcollege%2Fwisconsin%2Fboard%2F23%2Fcontents%2Ftweets-144988831%2F%3Fpage%3D1)
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Just to circle back, as I said at the time, paying TVD torpedoed the season. This is the most fortunate injury since Drew Bledsoe with the 2001 Patriots
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Well, that was fun.
Based on the preseason schedule, the crappy starts, and the quarterback thing, my basic goal for this team is to make a bowl game. If they do that, I will be adjusted expectations happy.
If they want to play decent offense in this vein for most of the rest of the season, they might not even have to fire the offensive coordinator, although I think based on personalities, that’s probably gonna happen anyway
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My review of today's game:
We're the Wisconsin Badgers. You're not.
Some normalcy has returned. Although that was quite a beat down.
Happy to see Wisconsin acting like itself again. One more week to tune up for a big test with Penn State in Camp Randall. But don't overlook Northwestern--they looked pretty good today, too.
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I used to go to every Badger game in Evanston. I had a very poor record there. Maybe this will be different because Dyche Stadium is no longer.
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Rutgers 12 for 32 passing. TO battle was 2-1 in favor of Rutgers. That was a shocker really.
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(https://i.imgur.com/HBpuxG8.jpeg)
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This is a Nebraska thread?
Who knew?
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I couldn't resist
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So they've lost their S again?
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So they've lost their S again?
No, because they only lost to the Nebraska juggernaut by 7, while giving up 14 points.
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Yeah but the Badgers pummeled 'em!
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cause of the culture of physicality the previous week
;)
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Rutgers 12 for 32 passing. TO battle was 2-1 in favor of Rutgers. That was a shocker really.
There were a ton of self-inflicted wounds for Rutgers. The dropped passes bordered on the ridiculous. A better performance probably wouldn't have won Rutgers the game, but it would have been much more competitive.
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There were a ton of self-inflicted wounds for Rutgers. The dropped passes bordered on the ridiculous. A better performance probably wouldn't have won Rutgers the game, but it would have been much more competitive.
To be fair, a lot of those "drops" were on the QB for poor passes. Many would have been considered great catches if completed.