What is so great about Wisconsin? Why CAN'T we beat them this week?

[Scarlet_Scourge]

We will be lucky to score more than 14 points.

Their defense is just too good.

This year they are not running as much and are passing a lot more.

This will allow them to score a lot of points against our young pass defense.

The odds of Rutgers winning is slim and none.

They should win by 21 points or more.

So expect even more epic board meltdowns and fire Flood threads.

 

[BadgerInSpartyland]

As to how long UW has been dealing with injuries, the OL has been patchworking with different combos in nearly every game, so they're pretty far from being settled in. They've been without Traylor (starting TE who was a favorite target) for several games, but Fumagalli is not a huge dropoff - he's pretty experienced anyway - it's the 3rd stringer who's moved up to play during 2TE sets that is not as good. Clement has been out since game one and the replacements are not close to his level. Our #3 guy is out too and he was starting to produce when he got hurt 2 or 3 games ago. In short, there's no rhythm really, other than getting the ball to Erickson by any means necessary.

 

[RUtrumpet92]

Play aggressive on D. Blitz the hell out of them, bringing different guys from the same alignment. Confuse a line that is down 3 out of 5 starters. This is not OSU with a team loaded with 4 and 5 star future NFL talent. Definitely a chance to keep it a game if the defense brings it and tackles better than last week.

 

[S.B. Crumb]

~20 points dogs. You can try to imagine all the variables that may be in our favor that you want...somewhere between 5%-10% chance historically of winning outright with lines in that neighborhood. Not sure what else you need to know OP.

 

[rutgersguy1]

As to how long UW has been dealing with injuries, the OL has been patchworking with different combos in nearly every game, so they're pretty far from being settled in. They've been without Traylor (starting TE who was a favorite target) for several games, but Fumagalli is not a huge dropoff - he's pretty experienced anyway - it's the 3rd stringer who's moved up to play during 2TE sets that is not as good. Clement has been out since game one and the replacements are not close to his level. Our #3 guy is out too and he was starting to produce when he got hurt 2 or 3 games ago. In short, there's no rhythm really, other than getting the ball to Erickson by any means necessary.

Thanks for the response, that's what I was wondering about how settled those positions have been since the injuries.

 

[RU-ROCS]

Let me preface this by saying that I haven't watched Wisconsin play this year nor do I care to unless it is against Rutgers (and yes I live in Wisconsin and will be at the game in person this week).

What is it about their offense and defense that we have to worry about? Mismatches etc.

I haven't really heard anything special about them this year. My feeling was that they're closer to Nebraska than MSU. But again I haven't watched them play this year.

I thought the same thing before last year's home game v. Wisconsin and then they went out and kicked our ass with a 37-0 shutout. So, I think it will pretty ugly for RU.

 

[NotInRHouse]

While true, that was an unusual game:

1) The weather was awful: Driving rain storm and very windy. That was very bad for RU, since we were a better passing team at that time than running team, and Wisconsin was a bad passing team and a great power running team ... the bad weather helped Wisconsin a LOT. Wind is the worst thing for passing.

2) Nova was hurt, and should not even have played, frankly. He got hurt on the last play of the 1st half of the Nebraska game, and could barely move in the bad weather against Wisconsin.

Wisconsin only had 83 yards passing ... which was better than RU which only had 63 yards passing. Nova was bad: 5-15 for 46 yards and an interception. Laviano was worse: 2-12 for 17 yards. Clement and Gordon ran wild on RU.

Nothing from that game last year means anything: Hopefully the weather conditions will be better, Gordon will not be playing (his eligibility is done), and maybe even Clement will not be playing ... perhaps even Stave will not be playing? On the other hand for RU Carroo and Grant are questionable .. and Tsimis is out. That means we actually may only HAVE 3 WR (one of whom is a walk-on), unless Harris is available (and we want to burn his red-shirt) and/or we want to burn Bunt's red-shirt.

Fair points but now we have a worse defense and an inexperienced QB. We also seem to do worse on the road.

We have been historically cursed against backup QBs too.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

ggggg
Who are you....Rip Van Winkle........Wazzou is the talk of the Pac12 after a opening loss knocking us and Oregon off....wake up Rip.

Oregon is 4-3 and COULD lose out with ASU, Cal, Stanford, USC, then arch-rival OSU, coming up. They got mauled by Utah 62-20. Wazzou? Not bad, but again, WHO have they beaten? RU, Oregon State, Wyoming, blah, Oregon and Arizona - okay - let's see what they do the rest of the way: Stanford, ASU, UCLA, Cal, Washington. They could finish 6-6 after a 5-2 start, or not, should be interesting to watch.

 

[Muggsy Blue]

Stave is starting at Qb which most Wisconsin fans believe is unfortunate. Would have liked to see Bart Houston get the start. Many Badger fans have been waiting for Houston to get his day in the sun, although I think rain is predicted for Saturday. Lol. If you're visiting Madison for the game, enjoy Halloween in the pm, it's like nothing you've ever seen.

 

[brgossRU90]

We haven't beaten a team with a winning record since November 29, 2014 when we had to come back from 107 points behind to beat Maryland.