Campus Clash
(11) Michigan Wolverines at (13) Wisconsin Badgers
Michigan: They’re lucky to even be 2-0 right now. If you saw that game against Army in week two, you’ll understand what I’m talking about. They let a team who threw the football a total of four times hang around in the game and with the defense they have, this should’ve been over in regulation, but it didn’t pan out that way. Army took Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines to double overtime and they were able to survive (Michigan was). My biggest takeaway following that game was they get too complacent for my liking. Sometimes, I get the feeling that they feel they’ll win each game just because they’re the heavy favorites. That’s the wrong mindset to have as a football team. You still must play and put it together on the field regardless of who your opponent maybe. The Michigan Wolverines brand of football has been built like this the last few years. The offense just needs to take care of the ball and control the clock. The defense handles the rest. It hasn’t been that way this year. Offensively, they’re averaging 32 points a game which is great and all. Shea Patterson has command and control of the offense. However, the defense isn’t as sharp as they usually are. They’re giving up 21 points per game which is unlike a Don Brown coached defense. Remember, this was everyone’s favorite to win the Big Ten East this year because of Ohio State making changes at coach and quarterback. Big Ten play is set to begin with a showdown in Madison early on Saturday.
Wisconsin: Last season was a down year for these Wisconsin Badgers. They’ve always been the favorites to win their division each year, but they just didn’t have it in 2018. This season, they’ve played with an edge to them. It’s tough to pitch shutouts in this sport. In their first two games, they beat up on South Florida by a score of 49-0 and the following week later, they handled their business against Central Michigan and put up 61 points and pitched another shutout. It’s one thing to shut a team out one week, but to do it in back to back weeks is an impressive feature of itself. Wisconsin Badgers football has always stood firm on two things. The first is running the football which seems to be a lost thing within the game because it’s such a pass-first driven game. They also have the best running back in the country who I also feel is one of the three best players in the nation that isn’t a quarterback. He goes by the name of Jonathan Taylor and you know the rule: You better game if you have two first names! And this kid does. He’s scored five touchdowns this year. He’s such a dynamic football player that can change the outcome of an entire game. The second is having a consistent offensive line. If you really watch and pay attention, many of Wisconsin’s quarterbacks always have a clean pocket to throw the football from. When I think of the Big Ten West, it’s only two teams that stand out to me and that’s the Iowa Hawkeyes and these Wisconsin Badgers. To start conference play, they’ll face a Michigan team who handled them last year when they met at the big house.
Michigan Player To Watch: Devin Gil– He’s a key contributor to this Wolverines defense that lost Devin Bush and Chase Winovich. He has a strong nose for the football, he’s a tackling machine and he’ll be counted on to try and limit Jonathan Taylor in this game.
Wisconsin Player To Watch: Quintez Cephus– He’s been nothing but the model of consistency for them. What I admire about his game is he just quietly goes about his business. He doesn’t talk much because he lets his game do it for him. He’s crafty after the catch, moves well in open space and attacks zone coverage better than most receivers in college.
Final Analysis: This should be a fun way to start some Big Ten play! The games always seem to be close when these two meet up minus last year’s showdown. The one thing I really hope Michigan worked on while on the bye was their ball security. An offense can’t get into a rhythm if they can’t hold on to the football. They fumbled the ball three times in the first half against Army. Don Brown said he was excited to face this Wisconsin team. However, he’ll be facing an offense that can do so much. Jonathan Taylor just doesn’t run the ball, he’s also able to catch the ball and be an additional receiver in the passing game. I have a strong feeling Michigan will try to make Jack Coan beat them by throwing the ball over the top. This will be a tough task for the Michigan offense facing a defense that’s yet to allow a touchdown this year in two games. If I’m Wisconsin, I’m collapsing the pocket of Shea Patterson every chance I get. He can sometimes be shaky under duress.
Prediction: Wisconsin 20 Michigan 17
