Nebraska Football: Previewing the Wisconsin Game

Buckle your chinstrap Cornhusker fans; this week could be a bumpy ride for Nebraska!

Nebraska fans have had Saturday, October 1st circled on their calendar for over a year. This is the day the Cornhuskers play their first game in the Big Ten Conference. Their new conference did not do the Cornhuskers any favors by starting them off with No. 7 ranked Wisconsin.

Wisconsin has looked like the best team in the Big Ten Conference so far this season. While every team in the conference has struggled at times this year, Wisconsin has consistently moved the ball down the field. The Wisconsin schedule has not been too tough this year, but they were able to beat each team convincingly. Wisconsin opened their season with a 51-17 win over UNLV, followed by a 35-0 win over Oregon State and last week the Badgers beat South Dakota 59-10. Their schedule will get much tougher when the Cornhuskers come to town!

Nebraska has played well at times this year, but have also made too many mistakes. Most Nebraska fans would have hoped that the Cornhuskers would have been able to put together a complete game before their visit to Wisconsin. So far it hasn’t happened. In their first two games Nebraska had problems both offensively and defensively. In their last two games Nebraska has played much better on offense but still allowed teams to move the ball on their defense. Nebraska will need a complete game in order to pull off the upset over Wisconsin.

The game between Nebraska and Wisconsin is the game of the week in College football. The game will be shown nationally on ABC and the ESPN College GameDay crew will be at Camp Randall Stadium for a pregame show. Whichever team comes out with the victory Saturday night will be in the driver’s seat for the Big Ten Conference.

Here is how I think the game will break down.... (to continue, click Begin Slideshow)

Nebraska’s Offense vs. Wisconsin’s Defense

The good news is that Nebraska has played much better offensively in recent weeks. The bad news is that they haven’t shown the consistency needed to put up points on a defense as strong as Wisconsin’s.

Nebraska will bring the No. 36 rated offense in the country to play Wisconsin’s No. 7 rated defense. Nebraska is averaging 439 yards a game while Wisconsin is allowing an average of 246 yards a game. Something will have to give Saturday night.

Nebraska has proved that they can run the ball. Running Back Rex Burkhead has been Nebraska’s hottest player the last two weeks. The problem Nebraska will have against Wisconsin is when quarterback Taylor Martinez is forced to pass. Martinez has been erratic with his throws this year, only completing 50 percent of his passes.

Nebraska has not had to throw the ball to win their first four games. That will change Saturday night. If Taylor Martinez does not figure out a way to make plays with his arm instead of his legs, it will be a long night versus Wisconsin.

Wisconsin has one of the deepest defensive lines in the Big Ten Conference. The best way to move the ball against Wisconsin is by testing their secondary. The problem is Nebraska does not have the quarterback to pass the ball on Wisconsin. Nebraska will line up and try to play smash-mouth football against Wisconsin.

Will it work? If Nebraska’s offensive line plays the best game of their lives, it could, but I think Wisconsin will stack the box against Nebraska daring Taylor Martinez to throw the ball. This could end up in a nightmare of a situation for the Cornhuskers.

I give the edge in this matchup to Wisconsin.

Nebraska’s Defense vs. Wisconsin’s Offense

Where have the Blackshirts been this year?

Before the 2011 season fans were talking about how Nebraska would have a good defense and if the offense could get rolling, Nebraska would be on track for another Conference Championship game. Four games into the season the roles are reversed. Nebraska has played well at times on offense but the defense has played consistent football…. Consistently poor that is!

The one excuse that Nebraska can make about their defense is that they have been injured throughout the season. In the first three games, All-American defensive back Alfonso Dennard was out with a leg injury. Last week Dennard returned but All-American defensive tackle Jared Crick was out with an injury. This week Nebraska is expected to be at full strength. Will having all three All-Americans (Alfonso Dennard, Jared Crick, Lavonte David) in their defensive lineup be just what the Cornhuskers need? Well, it cannot hurt!

Nebraska has two of the best defensive coaches in college football with Bo and Carl Pelini. Nebraska has been waiting a long time for this game and I expect the Pelini brothers to have a defensive scheme ready for Wisconsin that will slow them down. The problem is will Nebraska’s defense be able to make enough plays defensively to keep the game close?

Wisconsin is loaded on offense! The Badgers are ranked No. 8 in the country in total offense. They are averaging 532 yards a game. Nebraska is ranked No. 52 in the country in total defense. Nebraska has allowed an average of 350 yards per game.

Wisconsin’s quarterback, Russell Wilson is one of the best in the country. He transferred from North Carolina State where he was the first ever freshman to be named to the All-ACC first team. Now a senior, Wilson has more skilled players surrounding him than he ever had at North Carolina State.

Wisconsin has two great running backs in Monte Ball and James White. Each player ran for over 1,000 yards last season and is the key to Wisconsin’s ground and pound offensive attack.

When Wisconsin has to throw the ball, the Badgers have two elite players to make the catches. Wide receiver Nick Toon (son of former NFL player Al Toon) is a large target at 6'2" 220 pounds. Tight end Jacob Pedersen has been labeled the best tight end in Wisconsin football history. That is saying a lot for a player coming from a program that has produced such great tight ends as Travis Beckum, Garrett Graham and Lance Kendricks.

Nebraska will have their hands full trying to stop a dual threat quarterback in Wilson, two dynamic running backs in Ball and White and two big receivers in Toon and Pederson.

I give a huge edge in this matchup to Wisconsin.

Special Teams

Nebraska’s special teams have been the best unit for the Cornhuskers this season. Kicker Brett Maher has been clutch in the kicking game, kick returner Ameer Abdullah has been electric returning kicks and Nebraska’s kick coverage team has made some big plays.

Last week Wyoming refused to kick the ball to Ameer Abdullah. I look for Wisconsin to use the same strategy.

Wisconsin has one of the best kickers in the country in Phillip Welch. The problem is that Welch has not played this season due to a leg injury. Wisconsin has been relying on freshman kicker Kyle French this season. French has done a good job but he is not nearly the kicker Welch is. There is no word yet if Phillip Welch will make his debut Saturday night or if the leg injury will keep him out another week.

If Phillip Welch plays for the Badgers this week I would call this matchup even, but without Welch I would give a slight edge to Nebraska. I believe Ameer Abdullah could be a difference maker in this game. If Wisconsin decides to kick to him, Nebraska could be able to score points without relying on their offense to move the ball down the field. I don’t see Wisconsin giving Nebraska that opportunity.

Prediction

Wisconsin is an 11-point favorite over Nebraska. The two teams are ranked right next to each other in the national polls, Nebraska at No. 8 and Wisconsin at No. 7. Does this mean Nebraska is overrated or is Wisconsin underrated? I think it is a combination of both.

Nebraska is a year away from being a dominating team in the Big Ten Conference. This is Wisconsin’s year. I think they will make it to the National Championship game to take on the winner of the SEC Conference.

Wisconsin wins this game going away…. 38 -17!