| Wisconsin linebacker Mike Taylor leads the Badgers with 71 tackles this season. (US Presswire) |
Minnesota (4-2, 0-2 Big Ten) at Wisconsin (5-2, 2-1)
Kickoff: Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
Spread: Wisconsin by 18.5
Watchability: The Gophers are allowing 150 rushing yards per game and have lost the last eight games in the series. With Wisconsin’s offense peaking, this game could be over long before the final whistle.
Shining Stars: Wisconsin: Linebackers Mike Taylor and Chris Borland are at the heart of Wisconsin’s defense, which ranks 21st in the country in total yardage allowed (325 ypg). The two have combined for 133 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles, seven games into the season. Minnesota is dealing with injuries to both quarterbacks MarQueis Gray and Max Shortell, meaning sophomore RB Donnell Kirkwood (467 yards, three touchdowns) will be working against the teeth of the Badger defense. Minnesota: The Gophers' most dynamic player, QB Gray, suffered a setback in his return from a high-ankle sprain last weekend against Northwestern and his status has been downgraded for this weekend’s rivalry game. Minnesota’s best shot is with Kirkwood, the bruising tailback, who’ll likely see around 25 carries without having to split them with Gray. Gophers standout wide receiver A.J. Barker’s effectiveness is limited without a healthy passer.
Who could steal the show: Wisconsin: Minnesota coach Jerry Kill had high praise for Wisconsin’s former walk-on Jared Abbrederis. The 6-2 junior WR has become the Badgers biggest threat through the air, averaging 18.0 yards per reception, the fifth-most in the conference. His 559 yards leads the Big Ten while his five touchdowns are tied for third. “[Abbrederis] is tremendously athletic, tremendously competitive,” Kill said. “You can’t have enough guys like him playing the game of football.” Minnesota: Defensive backs Troy Stoudermire and Derrick Wells have provided a safety net for the Gophers over the top of Minnesota’s secondary. Their pass defense ranks ninth nationally (162 passing ypg) and the two have combined for 73 tackles and two interceptions. Wisconsin freshman quarterback Joel Stave is still prone to bad passes in traffic so the duo will likely be a little more aggressive in pass coverage. Stoudermire and Wells have five tackles for loss on the year, meaning that if Wisconsin relies heavily on RB Montee Ball, the two are capable of plugging up gaps around the tackles.
You going? Ranking the road trip: Wisconsin students hailing from Minnesota are desperate for some bragging rights but they’ll likely have to wait until hockey season for something to boast about. Paul Bunyan’s axe hasn’t been in Minnesota since 2003, when the Gophers last won 37-34.
Magic number for Wisconsin: 20. The Badgers have won their last 20 straight games at Camp Randall, the second-longest active home winning streak in the nation (LSU).
Magic number for Minnesota: 63. The Gophers have allowed an average of 63 yards on defense throughout the second halves of the last two games. Over that time, they haven’t allowed an offensive point.
The game comes down to: How effective Montee Ball is against the Gophers front seven. If Ball rushes like he did last weekend against Purdue, it puts Stave at ease and opens up the play-action pass to tight end Jacob Pedersen or to Abbrederis. Minnesota’s defense needs to keep the game close because its offense can’t keep up with the Badgers.
Prediction: Wisconsin 41, Minnesota 17
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