My best approximation is that Wisconsin is thoroughly mediocre. Strong defense, inconsistent (at best) offense. Nebraska seems pretty similar. They have surprisingly few common opponents so far for teams in the same division, but even those results aren't especially revealing. WisconsinBadgers winprobablyOBVIOUSLY has the better defense, and their offenses feel about equally bad.
Some upper levels programs appear to have recovered faster than perhaps expected, LSU and USC and Tennessee come to mind, and a few went the other way. Wisconsin doesn't seem to be quite that far down. To me.Brian Kelly is a great coach. Lousy recruiter. He won't have that problem at LSU where he won't have to leave his back yard to find studs. ND recruiting actually has gone up another level with Freeman at the helm, who seems to be an ace recruiter but not quite the X's and O's game day guy Kelly is.
Notre Dame and FSU are both ranked at 7-3.
is this one a must win if Leonhard wants to remove that interim tag and become the permanent HC?I don't think he is being judged that way.
Casey Thompson is throwing at practice, but Chubba Purdy is done for the yearI'm done for the year.
| Wisconsin Badgers (3-4, 5-5) at Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-5, 3-7) |
| NOON - Lincoln, NE - ESPN |
| Nebraska's offense has shown flashes at points this season, but none of those moments occurred with Casey Thompson out injured. The Huskers scored 37 against Purdue, and then had scored twice in the first 10 minutes against Illinois, which was pretty good based on how Illinois defense was playing at the time. Then Thompson went down, and in 2.5 games without their starting quarterback, Nebraska has been outscored 74-16, with their lone touchdown coming on the opening drive against Minnesota. Chubba Purdy has been outright bad in his absence, but if Mickey Joseph had a better option, I'm sure he would use it. And now Purdy is out with a high ankle sprain, after starting both games with Thompson hurt. So Thompson is taking practice reps, but if he can't go, it's Logan Smothers, who couldn't beat out Purdy, or walk on Jarrett Synek who saw his first ever college action late in the blowout loss in Ann Arbor. While Graham Mertz's performances have been continuously critiqued, the other issue has been the pass protection is well below the normal Wisconsin standard. Northwestern didn't get to the quarterback at all, but over their other 5 games since October 1, Wisconsin has allowed 5 sacks to Illinois, 3 to Michigan State, 2 to Purdue, 3 to Maryland, and 4 to Iowa. The Badgers rank #105 in the FBS is sack rate, and #117 in sack rate on standard downs. That's their biggest problem, but the Badgers' line ranks in the bottom third of the FBS in 7 of the 9 metrics tracked by Football Outsiders, and only rank in the top third in one, which is their run blocking on passing downs. Fortunately for Wisconsin, the Nebraska defense is giving up 4.6 ypc and 191 rushing ypg, both 2nd worst in the Big Ten. This might look like a classic Wisconsin game, where they throw it 14 times, because that's all they have to. |
| WISCONSIN 29, NEBRASKA 17 |
(https://i.imgur.com/TiyW8Vw.png)This makes me happy. He seems like a good kid.
Athlon Sports previews the game and predicts a 27-17 Wisconsin win.sounds about right. I'm looking for Wisconsin to have a big bounce back game after a stinker vs Iowa.
That does not sound good at all.Substitute Scotch?
Substitute Scotch?NO!!!
Been trying to figure why the Badgers running game isn't as explosive as it usually is. Think it comes down to the offense line not continuing blocking till the whistle blows. Seems like they make their run block and then quit. Prior years they would continue to be pushing the defensive players another yard or two until the play has stopped.They just seem soft. All of these 4-5* kids are really not all that good. Maybe go back to just getting those monster kids from Door County or something.
:) It's actually 11 years.9 in a row counting the Big Ten Champ game
(https://i.imgur.com/sv7dcbB.png)
2012 was 11 years ago.yup, Huskers won that season
yup, Huskers won that seasonNot the one that mattered. ;)
9 in a row counting the Big Ten Champ gameCorrect bitter Badgers stoop to anything for street cred
10 years - Huskers won in Lincoln in 2012
Correct bitter Badgers stoop to anything for street cred70
7059-0
59-0Wrong thread.
Wrong thread.Blinded by the Light
Wisconsin goes to a bowl, which means more practices and game experience for next season.They were going anyway. #2 APR rank in the conference (NU). They would have gotten in at 5-7.