Link: http://collegefootballnews.com/2017/10/wisconsin-nebraska-prediction-game-preview
Wisconsin vs. Nebraska Fearless Prediction & Game Preview
by Pete Fiutak, CollegeFootballNews.com
Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0) at Nebraska (3-2, 2-0)
Saturday, October 7 - 7:00 p.m. - Big Ten Network
Eventually, Wisconsin is going to play someone who's good at college football. This is Nebraska's shot to pivot and be that team.
The Badgers got by a mediocre Northwestern team -- needing to fight late to put it away -- but Utah State, Florida Atlantic and BYU? Yippee.
With Purdue and Maryland at home over the next two games, and Illinois and Indiana to follow, it's not exactly a murderer's row of top-shelf games for Bucky, but that's the slate. That's the deal.
So if this really is a College Football Playoff-good team that just so happens to have a walk-in-the-park schedule until Michigan comes to town in mid-November, it should obliterate the Huskers.
For all of the problems Nebraska had to get by Arkansas State, and as ugly as the Oregon and Northern Illinois losses were, it's 2-0 in the Big Ten with layup wins over Rutgers and Illinois. And the program can go from punching bag to contender in just two weeks.
Beat the Badgers, beat Ohio State, and everything changes.
But Wisconsin has won six of the last seven games against the Huskers going back to 1973. Again, if it's the real deal, it'll be five in a row.
One Reason Why Wisconsin Will Win
Interceptions. The Badgers are about to come up with them, and Tanner Lee will serve them on a plate.
Lee didn't throw any picks against Illinois in a terrific performance, and the Huskers won easily. But he gave up nine in a three-game stretch, proving devastating against Oregon and Northern Illinois, and keeping Rutgers in the game.
The Badger defense has come up with two interceptions or more in three of their four games, taking a Clayton Thorson throw pack for a score against Northwestern last week.
The pass rush has been incredible, coming up with eight sacks of Thorson last week with the pressure a constant in the backfield against everyone.
The Nebraska O-line has been solid in pass protection so far, but it's about to be tested.
One Reason Why Nebraska Will Win
The Nebraska defensive front continues to be solid.
It's been blown off because of all the issues, but the Husker D has been relatively okay. It had a rough first half against Oregon, but it managed to lock down in the second half comeback attempt.
There isn't a big-time pass rush, but the run defense does a nice job of holding up.
Oregon was Oregon for that first half, but it was still held to a not-that-bad 201 rushing yards and struggled in the second. No one else has hit the 100-yard mark with NIU, Rutgers and Illinois each being held to under three yards per carry.
The Badgers were stuffed for 109 rushing yards last week against the Northwestern defense -- they're going to have to work for yards.
What's Going to Happen
The Badgers will be the Badgers with an efficient, effective passing game to offset a good-enough day from the rushing attack. But this game will be about the defenses.
The Badgers will load up against the Nebraska running game, the secondary will pick off three passes to make up for a few big plays allowed, and on the road, the team will lock down and come up with the performance many have been waiting for -- at least against a decent team.
The way the Northwestern game ended will matter. This will be a more focused, stronger day from the Badgers for a full 60 minutes.
Prediction
Wisconsin 37, Nebraska 20
Wisconsin vs. Nebraska Fearless Prediction & Game Preview
by Pete Fiutak, CollegeFootballNews.com
Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0) at Nebraska (3-2, 2-0)
Saturday, October 7 - 7:00 p.m. - Big Ten Network
Eventually, Wisconsin is going to play someone who's good at college football. This is Nebraska's shot to pivot and be that team.
The Badgers got by a mediocre Northwestern team -- needing to fight late to put it away -- but Utah State, Florida Atlantic and BYU? Yippee.
With Purdue and Maryland at home over the next two games, and Illinois and Indiana to follow, it's not exactly a murderer's row of top-shelf games for Bucky, but that's the slate. That's the deal.
So if this really is a College Football Playoff-good team that just so happens to have a walk-in-the-park schedule until Michigan comes to town in mid-November, it should obliterate the Huskers.
For all of the problems Nebraska had to get by Arkansas State, and as ugly as the Oregon and Northern Illinois losses were, it's 2-0 in the Big Ten with layup wins over Rutgers and Illinois. And the program can go from punching bag to contender in just two weeks.
Beat the Badgers, beat Ohio State, and everything changes.
But Wisconsin has won six of the last seven games against the Huskers going back to 1973. Again, if it's the real deal, it'll be five in a row.
One Reason Why Wisconsin Will Win
Interceptions. The Badgers are about to come up with them, and Tanner Lee will serve them on a plate.
Lee didn't throw any picks against Illinois in a terrific performance, and the Huskers won easily. But he gave up nine in a three-game stretch, proving devastating against Oregon and Northern Illinois, and keeping Rutgers in the game.
The Badger defense has come up with two interceptions or more in three of their four games, taking a Clayton Thorson throw pack for a score against Northwestern last week.
The pass rush has been incredible, coming up with eight sacks of Thorson last week with the pressure a constant in the backfield against everyone.
The Nebraska O-line has been solid in pass protection so far, but it's about to be tested.
One Reason Why Nebraska Will Win
The Nebraska defensive front continues to be solid.
It's been blown off because of all the issues, but the Husker D has been relatively okay. It had a rough first half against Oregon, but it managed to lock down in the second half comeback attempt.
There isn't a big-time pass rush, but the run defense does a nice job of holding up.
Oregon was Oregon for that first half, but it was still held to a not-that-bad 201 rushing yards and struggled in the second. No one else has hit the 100-yard mark with NIU, Rutgers and Illinois each being held to under three yards per carry.
The Badgers were stuffed for 109 rushing yards last week against the Northwestern defense -- they're going to have to work for yards.
What's Going to Happen
The Badgers will be the Badgers with an efficient, effective passing game to offset a good-enough day from the rushing attack. But this game will be about the defenses.
The Badgers will load up against the Nebraska running game, the secondary will pick off three passes to make up for a few big plays allowed, and on the road, the team will lock down and come up with the performance many have been waiting for -- at least against a decent team.
The way the Northwestern game ended will matter. This will be a more focused, stronger day from the Badgers for a full 60 minutes.
Prediction
Wisconsin 37, Nebraska 20
