Saturday Spotlight
(12) Notre Dame Fighting Irish at (18) Wisconsin Badgers
Notre Dame: 3-0 is a good thing normally, right? They could easily be 1-2 because if I’m being realistic, they should’ve lost in Tallahassee to the Florida State Seminoles in week one. They had an 18-point lead, blew it, but still came out on top with a three-point win in overtime. The following week, they needed a late fourth quarter comeback against Toledo. They won their first two games by a total of six points. I understand winning is winning, but I haven’t been a fan of how they’ve been getting the job done. Just last weekend against the Purdue Boilermakers, they were able to dominate, but I noticed one glaring issue: The offensive line. They’ve been struggling early in the season. They allowed four sacks and allowed continuous amounts of pressure. Okay, so I got the negative thoughts out. There’s always a shining point and for the Fighting Irish, it’s been quarterback Jack Coan. When you watched Notre Dame under Ian Book, the offense was never a big play type. As I said earlier in the year, they were a group who depended on efficiency. This year, Jack has given them a slew of big plays down the field and most importantly, the veteran leadership in the crucial moments of games. If I had to use a word to describe them, it’s tested. Despite being pushed, they always find that moment to make that big play when necessary. This morning, they will be facing a Big Ten opponent at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Wisconsin: I was disappointed after watching them in week one against the Penn State Nittany Lions. The defense did all they could to keep them in that game. They were asked to get off the field on third down and they did just that. The issue was their offense and though they were able to bounce back against Eastern Michigan, there’s still concerns about their offense moving forward. Whenever I think of Wisconsin Badgers football, two things come to mind. The first is a consistent rushing attack. They will find ways to run the football until you can stop it as a defense. The next is a strong offensive line. For years, they always have one of the best offensive lines in college football. They’re a strong and physical unit that can dominate the trenches up front. The concern right now is the passing game. It’s just not a sharp aspect of their game at this moment. Graham Mertz just hasn’t been able to get into a rhythm it appears. He’s either been pressured or he doesn’t have enough time to make the read. They’ve had to establish Chez Mellusi. The Badgers lead college football in time of possession which doesn’t surprise me at all. They keep the ball for 41 minutes per game. Another thing I think of when Wisconsin football comes to mind is defense. In two games this year, they’ve allowed 66 rushing yards total and are ranked second in total defense. In other words, one side of the ball is doing its job more than the other. Today, they have a showdown in Chicago.
Notre Dame X-Factor: Michael Mayer– He’s their best playmaking receiver and Coan’s first option he’s looking to get the football too. At 6’4 and 251 pounds, Michael is fluid with the ball in space after it hits his hands. There’s no answer for this kid because he’s such a mismatch nightmare. There’s not a safety that could cover him. A cornerback on him is just disrespectful and he’ll dominate against a linebacker.
Wisconsin X-Factor: Jack Sanborn– He is the leader and heart & soul of this Badger defense. Jack brings a viciousness to the linebacker position. His speed amazes me because he can get from point a to b in the blink of an eye. This is a sideline-to-sideline linebacker who patrols the middle of the field for this defense. He’s excellent when it comes to stopping the run. Jack is the quarterback of this Badgers defense.
Final Thoughts: Neutral site games are always fun! Jack Coan was once the starting quarterback for the Wisconsin Badgers. He gets to face his former team and I know he’ll have a big chip on his shoulder this morning. For Notre Dame to win this game, they will have to throw the ball. Good luck trying to run on this stout Wisconsin run defense. The Irish have struggled to run the ball and even run block as the running game has averaged only 2.9 yards per carry. For Wisconsin, Graham Mertz needs to make some big throws. Don’t just depend on Mellusi to bail you out. I see the Badgers trying to dominate the time of possession. This game comes down to the quarterbacks and I trust Jack more than I do Graham.
Prediction: Notre Dame 23 Wisconsin 20
