Big Ten Football: Five Keys to a Badger Victory Over Ohio State
If anyone wants to take over Ohio State's supremacy of the Big Ten, please speak now...
Many others have tried, and they all failed. The Buckeyes sit in the undisputed driver's seat of the Big Ten conference.
This season, many predicted Wisconsin or Iowa would at least equal and possibly better OSU's record.
Both of those competitors have lost once this season, and Wisconsin lost to MSU in the conference.
Meanwhile, OSU just keeps on churning out victories and now sits atop the polls as the No. 1 team in the country.
Can anyone in the Big Ten knock them off that perch?
Last season in Columbus, Wisconsin marched all over the Buckeyes, accumulating twice the amount of total yards and holding the ball for a good portion of the game. However, Bucky found himself at the short end of the stick once again, 31-13.
Alas, hope springs eternal, and with ESPN's College Gameday coming to Madison this weekend, the ever-burning flame of hope and confidence is again springing up among the Badger faithful.
Can Bucky find a way to beat OSU?
If they are going to pull off the upset, here are the keys to this week's game in Mad-Town...
5. Finish Possesions
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As was mentioned, the Badgers pounded OSU in every facet of the game last season except the score.
Two pick-sixes and a kickoff return for a touchdown carried the Buckeyes to victory.
The Badgers outgained the Buckeyes on offense, 368 yards to 184, and the Badgers had the ball for almost 43 minutes of game time.
So why the loss?
Bucky couldn't finish.
The Badgers' only touchdown came on a fake field goal, and the offense was unable to find the end zone.
For the Badgers to pull off the upset Saturday, they will have to finish drives with points.
4. Protect the Ball
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So, if the Badgers owned the Buckeyes in most offensive statistics, why did they lose?
Turnovers.
So to win Saturday, they need to do what?
Take care of the ball.
Probably not an easy task, considering the Buckeyes have a +10 turnover margin for the year.
Protect the ball, and the Badgers will be in it in the fourth quarter...Scott Tolzien, this means you.
3. Establish the Running Game
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Yes, the Badgers have a passing game.
Yes, they have the best tight end in the country.
Yes, they have an efficient quarterback.
But Saturday's game will be a good old-fashioned slugfest, and whichever team establishes control of the running game, and thus the clock, will come out on top.
It's time for the Badgers' "Thick Red Line" to earn their accolades as the best in the country.
OSU's defense has not given up much on the ground this season, allowing only 79 yards per contest.
That will have to change.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
2. Kick Coverage
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If the Badgers have an Achilles' Heel, it is kick coverage.
And of course, one of the Buckeye's strong points is the kick return game.
The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in return yards per game, while the Badgers are eighth in kickoff coverage.
Not good.
1. Pass Defense
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Wisconsin has some playmakers on defense: J.J. Watt, Jay Valai, Mike Taylor, and Aaron Henry.
In order for the Badgers to have a shot at the Buckeyes this weekend, the defense needs to get off the field against the pass on third down and find a way to stop the Buckeyes from airing it out.
The Badgers allowed 249 yards through the air to a weak Minnesota football team.
The Buckeyes lead the conference in scoring offense and are capable of scoring loads of points, fast.
Prediction
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The Badgers looked good against Minnesota, but the Gophers are obviously not OSU.
Look for the Badger running game to be effective, and the Buckeyes to pull out a close game, 24-21, in Mad-Town.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
