Michigan going for the upset over Wisconsin
The Michigan Wolverines will be trying to hamper the no. 7 ranked Wisconsin Badgers bowl bid on Saturday 20 November. Conversely, Wisconsin is attempting to win out their schedule to have a chance to make the Big 10 Conference title game.
Wisconsin’s season so far
The Badgers started the season impressively, winning their first four games against University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV), San Jose State, Arizona State and Austin Peay.
On 2 October, the Badgers suffered their first loss to conference foe and former no. 24 ranked Michigan State University.
They rebounded immensely from their lone loss, winning their previous five games against Minnesota, former number one Ohio State, former no. 15 Iowa, Purdue, and last week’s enormous blow out of Indiana, 83-20.
The Badgers will play conference opponents to end their regular season schedule, starting with the Wolverines and finishing on 27 November against Northwestern.
Michigan’s previous games
The Wolverines started their promising season with a five game winning streak over Connecticut, Notre Dame, Massachusetts, Bowling Green and Indiana.
They lost their next three games, two of which were against ranked opponents. Former no. 17 and in state rival Michigan State Spartans beat them 34-17 while former no. 15 Iowa Hawkeyes took care of business as well, 38-28. The Wolverines followed those games
up with another loss, to unranked Penn State Nittany Lions, 41-31.
The following week featured the Wolverines in an emotionally thrilling game against Illinois, a game that went to triple overtime, with Michigan finally coming out on to 67-65. Last week’s game featured Michigan against Purdue, and the Wolverines came out
on top of that one as well, 27-16, to bring their record to 7-3 overall, but 3-3 in conference.
Their remaining games has them against the Badgers and finishing up against Ohio State.
Wolverines keys to victory
Keep the energy up and the momentum rolling. The offence is clicking with sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson throwing for 1990 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He also is the team’s leading rusher, accumulating 1417 yards on 205 carries.
Robinson has the Wolverines passing offence ranked 31st but the rushing game is ninth, thanks not only to him, but his number one running back Vincent Smith who has five touchdowns, 110 touches and 521 yards.
It is the defence that has been the downfall of the team this season, which allows an average of 32.1 points per game, for a national ranking of 93rd overall. They will need to step up their play this weekend if they want success against a potent
Badgers offence.
Wisconsin’s keys to victory
The Badgers offence is scoring an average of 40.2 points per game, good enough for eighth in the country in that category. However, they are in danger of become a one trick pony, as their passing game is lacking with a national ranking 74th
overall compared to their 12th ranked rushing game.
Their rushing game may take a hit as senior quarterback Scott Tolzien may not have his leading runner John Clay in the line up as his sprained right knee, which he suffered in the win over Purdue, has not healed as the team has hoped.
His fill-ins, Montee Ball and James White, led the Badgers to that huge win over Illinois.
"I don't know if we'll have that three-headed thing this week because John, I think, won't be at full strength, but when that situation does pop up, whether it's the next game or in the bowl game opportunity, it's something you've got to be smart about when
and how you use them," Badger head coach Bret Bielema said to the Associated Press.
Prediction
Michigan 27 – Wisconsin 20
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