Wisconsin Football Opponent Watch: How Did Badgers Competition Fare in Week One?
As the Badgers look to improve their 2009 record of 10-3 (5-3), keeping an eye on the opponent will be commonplace in the locker room.
Especially later in the season while teams fight for the top spot in the conference, and a BCS berth.
Wisconsin's football squad this year is a veteran group, having a quarterback entering the season with previous starting experience, the first time they've had that luxury in four years.
As with any week in the college football season, every game, every down even, will be dissected and analyzed to try to get the upper hand the following week.
Keeping an eye on your opponents can get you the slight edge you might not get from just one game's worth of game film study.
So how did the Badgers' season opponents fare in week 1?
Week Two Opponent: San Jose State (0-1)
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Jordan La Secla and the San Jose Spartans knew that facing No. 1 Alabama to kick off 2010 would be a tall order.
However, they didn't do much to stand in the way.
La Secla was just 7-14 passing, for 85 yards with an interception.
The running game was nothing to write home about, either.
The best running effort on the Spartans' side of the ball came from back Brandon Rutley.
The best play for the Spartans was a 49 yard reception by Noel Grisby. Aside from the 32 yard run by Rutley and Grisby's catch, the offense for the Spartans was non existent.
The Badgers should feast on the weak defense of the Spartans much in the same way as the Tide did: early and often.
The three headed monster at running back shouldered the load for the Badgers this week, so expect head coach Bret Bielema to repeat course with this next matchup. Against UNLV, the Badgers scored four rushing touchdowns, continuing their march forward as one of the premier running teams in the nation.
Week 3 Opponent: Arizona State University (1-0)
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In what is considered by most the best non-conference game the Badgers schedule features, the Badgers will take on the Arizona State Sun Devils at Camp Randall on September 18th.
So how does ASU stack up against UW?
Cameron Marshall led a rushing attack which totaled 242 yards and 5 touchdowns on just 35 team carries, with seven players touching the ball. The best performance by far, was Marshall's four-carry, 104 yard, three touchdown game.
He put the Sun Devils ahead after an early field goal by Portland St., with a 50 yard run to paydirt.
Can the Badgers defense stop the hot rushing attack of ASU?
The Badgers allowed UNLV to see some success in the running game, allowing 112 total yards rushing, but really keyed in on the passing game, stopping both Omar Clayton and Mike Clausen, with the two combining for just 10-26 passing, 105 yards and two touchdowns.
The Badgers defense is much better than that of Portland St., so look for a drop in production in both facets of the offensive game for ASU.
Week 4 Opponent: Austin Peay (1-0)
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The Austin Peay Governers face the Badgers in week four, but that's about all they'll do.
The Badgers should be favored by three scores, minimum, as the 1-AA school comes to Camp Randall featuring one moderate threat on offense, Terence Holt. His 3,583 career kick return yards are already an FCS record, so look for the Badgers to try to contain him on special teams.
Their week one opponent was Cumberland Unviersity, and they won the game 38-6 to kick off the Governers' season.
They have a good running back (14 carries for 126 yards an a touchdown for Holt) but not much else.
Playing D-2 football, they don't seem prepared to take on a legitimate big time program like Wisconsin.
If anyone's looking for a big upset here, the Austin Peay football program hasn't beaten a top 25 team in it's team history.
However, the basketball team did stun the Illini in the NCAA tournament, beating Illinois as a 14 seed over a 3 seed.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Week Five Opponent: Michigan State (1-0)
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Some people would like to say the Michigan State Spartans are an underrated team coming into this season.
I'd agree, but I'm the "what have you done for me lately" type, and their 2009 record of 6-7 (4-4) didn't inspire a person to put confidence in them.
However, the Spartans are off to a hot start in 2010, rolling over Western Michigan by a score of 38-14.
The rushing attack was the key for the Spartans, with two backs passing the 100-yard mark, and the team totaled 297 yards on the ground to go with four scores.
MSU looked sharp in this game, and they'll be bringing everything they've got against the Badgers come to town October 2nd.
Running backs Le'Veon Bell and Edwin Baker will shoulder the load for the Spartans offense.
Bell became the first MSU freshman to run for over 100 yards in his debut, totaling 141 yards and two touchdowns on just ten carries.
Week Six Opponent: Minnesota (1-0)
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In what will continue one of the longest running rivalry games, Wisconsin will take on Minnesota and their quality rushing attack in week six.
Running back Duane Bennett figures to be in the conversation for Big Ten offensive player of the year, and rightfully so. He runs hard, finds his hole, and makes people miss.
Wisconsin's defense will face a tough test against the running game of Minnesota, which ran for 281 yards against Middle Tennessee University in week one.
Minnesota's senior quarterback Adam Weber was serviceable, passing 10-17 for 150 yards, but no scores.
If the Golden Gophers have any hopes of being a BCS buster of the Badgers' 2010 season, it'll be through the running game that they find success.
For opening week, their 285 yards rushing ranked well enough for 15th in the nation.
However, if 2009 was any indication, the offensive line for the Gophers needs to be in top shape against the pass rush of JJ Watt and the Badgers. Last season, the Gophers allowed 39 sacks.
Week Seven Opponent: No. 5 Ohio State (1-0)
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The Ohio State Buckeyes are the analysts' pick to win the Big Ten this year, and with good reason. they have a Heisman worthy quarterback/do everything guy in Terrelle Pryor, and a great defense.
So how did Pryor and his defense do in week one?
The Buckeyes beat down the Marshall Thundering Herd.
One question: Where's Matthew McConaughey to save the Thundering Herd?
All jokes aside, the 45-7 beating of Marshall showed just how deadly the Buckeyes' offense can be, even if it was against a much lesser opponent.
Pryor and the offense were crisp, with Pryor passing for 17-25, 247 yards, and 3 touchdowns.
The running game proved effective, too. Backs Brandon Saine (9 carries, 103 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Jaamal Berry (7 carries, 80 yards) were sharp in their action on the field, totaling 183 yards and 2 touchdowns between them.
Week Eight Opponent: No. 9 Iowa (1-0)
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Ricky Stanzi and Adrian Clayborn are the leaders on offense and defense for the Iowa Hawkeyes, who are looking to improve on their 11-2 (6-2) record of 2009, which saw their national championship dreams disappear after a shocking loss to Northwestern, coupled with another loss the following week to Ohio State.
Iowa's NT Adrian Clayborn projects as a 1st round NFL Draft selection next year, so it's no surprise he's a dominating force on the interior for the Hawkeyes. As the old school of thought goes, you need to win the game in the trenches.
In their opener, the Hawkeyes faced Eastern Illinois, beating them 37-7.
Stanzi passed well, although he left the game for a while after awkwardly planting his leg when tackled.
After returning to the game, he finished passing 18-for-23, for 229 yards and a touchdown.
Starting in place of Jewel Hampton, Adam Robinson (pictured) ran for 109 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries in the win.
Week Nine Opponent: Purdue (0-1)
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Long gone are the days of Purdue with Drew Brees behind center, but that doesn't mean their passing game can't be just as formidable.
Transfer quarterback Robert Marve (who left the University of Miami) is now the starter in Boilermaker country.
Despite his passing (31-42, 220 yards) and a 23 yard scamper into the endzone in the fourth quarter, he was snake bitten with costly interceptions in the loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
On Notre Dame's 34 yard line, Marve threw an interception, ending a promising drive from Purdue's 29.
The Irish turned that interception into a seven play, 84 yard touchdown-scoring drive.
His last interception came at the end of a 15 play drive, immediately following the third quarter.
Marve looked sharp in the third quarter, completing 11-13, but as if a light switch flipped in his head, he threw another interception to Ian Williams on the Notre Dame 3 yard line.
Marve passed well in the third quarter, and was consistent the majority of the game, but his passing in clutch situations (both interceptions coming on long drives which would have yielded some points) needs some work.
Receiver Keith Smith was Marve's favorite target, catching 12 passes for 80 yards.
The Boilermakers have some work to do if they plan on contending in the Big Ten anytime soon.
Week Ten Opponent: Indiana (1-0)
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Senior Quarterback Ben Chappell passed for two touchdowns, and running back Darius Willis chipped in two touchdowns of his own, all in the first half, against the Hoosiers' creampuff opponent Towson in a 51-17 Indiana win.
The Indiana squad (which has won each of its four season openers under coach Bill Lynch) was firing on all cylinders.
Some would say they ran the score up as they pulled ahead by more than three scores before the half ended, but as the old saying goes "if you've got a problem with us scoring so much, stop us."
The Hoosiers aren't your 2007 New England Patriots, though. Last season, the team finished with a record of 4-8 (1-7 in Big Ten play).
The Hoosiers were without their best receiver, All-Big Ten Selection, Brandon Toss.
The score would have gotten that much more out of hand with the top receiver.
Week Eleven Opponent: Michigan (1-0)
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One could summarize the week one game between Michigan and Connecticut as "Denard Robinson's Arrival".
Robinson, the athletic quarterback who can do it all, passed or ran 51 total times in the Michigan win over UConn, beat out Tate Forcier in spring training camp and outplayed him in summer practices, earning the week one nod.
It's no surprise he'll be starting Michigan's next game as well.
Robinson is just one of 7 players to rush and pass for at least 185 yards in a game, with the likes of Vince Young (Young accomplished the feat in his Texas Longhorns title win over USC).
Without a doubt, Robinson impressed in his debut. However, the question remains: Will Michigan compete with Ohio State, Iowa, and Wisconsin for the Big Ten title this year?
If Rich Rodriguez has finally found the system quarterback he needs to make his offense work in the Big House, Michigan might make some noise in the Big Ten this season.
Week Twelve Opponent: Northwestern (1-0)
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In another Big Ten edition of "Multi-Dimensional Quarterbacks), Dan Persa led his team to a victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores with both his legs and arm.
Passing for 222 yards (19-21) and rushing for 81 yards to lead the team, Persa set the tone for what would be an exciting game between the two schools better known for their academics than their sports prowess.
In replacing Mike Kafka, Persa was near perfect all day.
He needed to be, as the Commodores just wouldn't go away.
After getting ahead to a 10-0 lead in the first, Vandy answered back with a touchdown (although they missed the extra point, and later added a field goal as the half came to a close.
Northwestern answered back in the 3rd quarter, intercepting quarterback Larry Smith.
Northwestern would later convert the turnover into 7 points, going up 17-9 by the end of the third quarter.
They would continue to hold the lead, despite Vanderbilt scoring some more to get the game to a closer score of 25-21, but a failed two point conversion and Northwestern running out the clock prevented any additional scoring the Commodores had in mind.
The Wildcats looked sharp on offense, but still won't be much higher than maybe 7th in the conference by seasons' end. Academics first, kids.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
