5 areas to watch when Wisconsin faces No. 20 Michigan
Several things to keep tabs of as the Badgers hope to turn the tide on the road.
MADISON, Wis. — This weekend will show just how much the University of Wisconsin team’s defense has improved in one key area.
Wisconsin (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) comes into Saturday’s 11 a.m. CT kickoff against No. 20 Michigan (3-1, 1-0) with the nation’s top rush defense, allowing only 50 yards on 2.1 yards per carry. The Wolverines, on the flip side, rank eighth in the nation in yards rushing per contest (253.5) thanks to an offensive line opening holes for running back Justice Haynes (537 yards rushing on 8.1 yards per attempts, six touchdowns).
“I don’t know that we’ve had, by any means, a test like this in the running game this year,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said. “And so we have done a good job up front. We’ve done a good job at controlling the run and giving ourselves a better opportunity to, obviously, to win football games when you can stop the run. But this is definitely going to be a different challenge.
“I think that is definitely the strength of the offense, but at times, when you do that, then you also got to realize and recognize that they got opportunities to make big plays in the passing game as well, whether it’s the quarterback’s feet, the quarterback’s arm. They’ve got talented players on the outside.”
Here are five other areas to watch on Saturday.
Can Wisconsin contain Bryce Underwood?
This’ll be another highly-regarded freshman the Badgers will see. Underwood hasn’t done a lot through the air, completing only 56.9% of his throws for 733 yards and two touchdowns and one interception in four games.
But he’s also hurt opposing offenses with his feet, carrying the ball for 169 yards rushing on 7.7 yards per carry and three additional touchdowns.
“He’s a great athlete,” Wisconsin defensive lineman Ben Barten said. “He’s going to be out there. He’s going to be extending plays while also looking downfield, where sometimes a freshman quarterback is extending plays or take it himself.
“So he’s good quarterback. It’s something we’ve been preparing for.”
Can Wisconsin protect its quarterback(s?) against Michigan’s defensive front seven?
The Wolverines have only allowed 77.5 yards rushing on 2.3 yards per attempt. The Badgers are only averaging 117.8 yards rushing on 3.1 yards per carry. That likely puts Wisconsin in the precarious position of needing to move the ball through the air.
It doesn’t matter if it’s Billy Edwards Jr. or Danny O’Neil starting for the Badgers if the pass protection can’t keep them clean and allow them to go through their reads.
Wisconsin’s needed to use three redshirt freshmen on the offensive line during the last two games, giving up 10 total sacks during those losses. Their assignments won’t get any easier this month if called into duty once again.
Michigan enters Saturday’s game with 14 sacks on the season, led by senior linebacker Jaishawn Barham (three).
Can Wisconsin win on special teams?
Maryland set the tone of the game in the first half two weeks ago with a blocked field goal followed by a blocked punt. The Terrapins won that third phase of the game.
Wisconsin saw a bright spot at Alabama with receiver Vinny Anthony II taking a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, though the game was largely decided by that home. Anything positive here from the Badgers on the road would be beneficial and keep it close.
Will Wisconsin be its own worst enemy?
The Badgers can’t make the costly, untimely penalties and negative plays that have plagued this team during its two losses, especially with the Wolverines in their own backyard.
That includes not giving Michigan the opportunity to have short fields off of takeaways. O’Neil has five interceptions already this season through the first four games. Wisconsin absolutely has to neutralize the turnover battle, and if it wants to pull an upset no one is seeing on paper, it has to decisively win it.
Prediction
I think Wisconsin’s run defense may hold for a while against the Michigan ground attack, but Badgers offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes is going to need his unit to chew up the clock and not walk off the field in three-and-outs. I don’t think Wisconsin can count on that right now with how the offense and its line are struggling.
I think Michigan ultimately pulls away, as 3- or 4-yard runs turning into 10 to 15 to 30 yard gains while wearing down the Wisconsin front — even with the Badgers’ added depth — over the course of the game.
Unless the defense or special teams can create some points, I don’t see Wisconsin pulling it off in Ann Arbor.
30-10, Michigan