For the first time since 1962 (#3 Wisconsin vs. #5 Minnesota), two top-ten teams will face-off at Camp Randall Stadium. The highly anticipated game between the #7 Wisconsin Badgers (4-0) and #8 Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-0) will be under the lights as the prime-time game on ABC with the help of ESPN College GameDay.
The battle for the Best in the Midwest contains more story lines than As The World Turns, and just might have as many followers as the popular soap opera. Nebraska fans are on a mission to scoop up as many tickets as they can to watch their favorite team in their Big Ten debut while the Badgers fans try to embrace a team who just might have a shot at a national title.
Nebraska Synopsis: Big Red has had an interesting start to the season. The offense has been a sight to see while mixing up a bunch of packages and letting QB Taylor Martinez and others run wild with the football. Martinez, possibly the fastest signal caller in the country (sorry Denard Robinson), is averaging 105 rushing yards per contest for a Cornhuskers team who is 8th in the country with 272.5 yards per game.
Meanwhile, the defense has been surprisingly suspect while allowing 22 points per game. They haven’t had a cupcake schedule as their four opponents do have a combined record of 10-6. In respects to yardage, the defense hasn’t been much better while giving up 349.8 yards per game, mostly through the air (216.5 ypg).
Regardless of how the defense has performed so far, they are squad filled with talent and boast two potential top-15 NFL draft picks in defensive tackle Jared Crick and cornerback Alfonzo Denard.
For the full Nebraska season preview go here.
Wisconsin Synopsis: You know expectations have shifted when The New York Times starts talking up the Badgers. I don’t blame them though as the Badgers have been straight dominant while outscoring their opponents 194-34.
Going into possibly the most hyped up game ever at Camp Randall, the Badgers have the opportunity to do something they’ve never done in football and that’s establish their selves in the talks for a national championship. Sure, winning the first ever Big Ten Championship would be nice, but this team appears to have the talent to go where no Wisconsin team has ever been.
It all starts with QB Russell Wilson who has helped transform an offense oriented around the run-game into a balanced pro-style offense which resembles something you would see on Sunday. The defense hasn’t been tested, but just having to practice against their offense has them ready to play against the likes of a Nebraska.
For the full Wisconsin season preview go here.
Prediction: These are both good teams who are rightfully ranked in the top-10 in the country. I think the game will start out slow and eventually turn into a shoot-out. The key for each team will be turnovers. For those who follow the Badgers, they have a knack for taking care of the ball, but haven’t proven they can take away the ball. Against Nebraska, Wisconsin will find a way to force critical turnovers and will effectively use the atmosphere at Camp Randall to their advantage.
Wisconsin 31 Nebraska 24
What do you think will happen when the Badgers and Cornhuskers meet up at Camp Randall? Let me know by commenting below!
Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers. He also enjoys to share Fantasy Advice from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best.