Wisconsin faces its first legitimate test of the season and our "experts" are a little more conservative this week. Bucky is favored by 14 over Sparky. What's your prediction?
Paul (2-0 straight up, 0-2 against the spread)
Things to watch for:
1) The opening shot of the ABC TV broadcast...it will be from a camera situated on top of the field house (or in that end zone anyway) and in attempting to show an overall shot of the stadium it will highlight the 2/3rds empty student section just before kickoff. They do this every week, and it never ceases to depress me.
I'm not here to ball anyone out for not getting in on time...trust me I was guilty of it myself in college and I am not yet old enough to have forgotten why. You won't see me atop any high horses here. Everybody please feel free to spend your Badger game day however you like, whether it be sitting at a house party with your mouth permanently affixed to the keg, or in your seat at the stadium on time. There are legitimate reasons those people are not in their seats at kickoff - stadium lines, sex, and booze being chief among them.
The situation sucks though. That camera shot they show at the beginning of every broadcast puts us in a bad light. We look like a MAC school that can't fill up the stadium, or at best a Big Ten school whose fans don't care enough to get there on time. Neither is the case of course - our fans care plenty, they just happen to care more about finishing the beer pong tournament at the pre-game party.
This situation has been discussed ad nauseum, so I'm not intending to rehash old controversies here. I don't even have a proposed solution, other than to kindly request that ABC/ESPN/whoever broadcasts the games don't open up their broadcast with the shot from the Field House. Bring a camera to Regent Street and find these girls or something....what do you think might be better for ratings anyway?
2) Scott Tolzein's flask. I'm convinced the guy was drunk during last week's game. Maybe just really hung over, but I say flat out drunk. When I wrote last week that we should all try to keep our BAC's at around .15 all day long, I didn't mean the players, especially not the quarterback. The athletic department needs to assign a security guard to Tolzein all day on Friday - making sure he doesn't hit the bars that night - and a special, dedicated water boy needs to be in charge of his liquid intake during the game...don't let him bring in his own water bottle, it's spiked.
3) Will anyone ever come up with a better name for turf toe? Nick Toon is possibly missing his second game with this condition - which by all accounts sucks ass and truly is a painful, difficult injury to come back from. But when you say turf toe it just sounds so trivial to those not familiar with quite what it its. Like my wife, who heard the announcers last weekend mention Toon sitting because of turf toe and was like "what the heck, who sits because of turf toe, isn't that just an ingrown toenail or something?" If she thought that, I'm sure many others did as well. So maybe we need a new name for it. Even "turf foot" might be an improvement. Or maybe we can name it after someone famous or really tough that suffered from it...Jack Lambert essentially called it a career after the 1984 season in part because he missed so much time that year to turf toe. Lambertitis? Lambert's disease? I don't know, I just know I don't need my wife thinking I'm obsessed with a sport where the guys sit out because of ingrown toenails.
4) The Badgers to finally get on track. I'm feeling it. Actually all week long I've vacillated between "oh shit, this stuff is all coming to a head this week and we're primed for an upset" and "we're better than this, there's no way a team with this much talent and experience will basically lay an egg vs. San Jose State then lose to Arizona State at home in consecutive weeks." And at this moment I've settled on option B. I look for the D to really come out flying with Borland back in the game, and the offense to slowly but surely put things together. I still don't think Tolzein, Clay and company are going to look like a well-oiled machine, but they'll at least look partially oiled, and will put together a few good drives and scores...the D may help out by giving them some good field position a couple times, and there's no way we keep turning it over quite as devastatingly as we have in the first two games this year....is there?
Prediction: 28-14 Badgers
Beaner (2-0, 0-2)
Weather could be the biggest factor in this game. If it's windy and rainy, UW will look to pound the ball and run the clock. There will be plenty of opportunity for big plays to Kendricks and Issac Anderson.
ASU's defensive will impress, but eventually wear down. They will take too many chances and Chryst will have the perfect way to capitalize. Without Toon and Gilreath, the offense could struggle. Badgers 28, Sun Devils 17.
Lescher (2-0, 0-2)
Ok, this week I'm not going to offer any comedic relief. The way things are going, we play like we have and we're going to get blown out. I talking about missed tackles, blown coverages, bad passing and even worse taking care of the ball. We're welcoming in an offense that can and will rack up some yards. Because of their passing attack, I'm going to predict a huge game for Valai (finally) and the usual passing heat of Watt. Borland coming back is also going to be a huge relief. If we can capitalize on their mistakes, which I'm hoping for handful from them, I see us covering the spread for the first time this season. Hopefully better opposition brews better execution, which is why I'm going with...Wisconsin 38, Arizona (great state!) St. 20.
Take the over as well. Because it's only gambling if you don't know what you're doing, right Steve Czaban?
Joe (2-0, 1-1)
I feel a bit uneasy this week. With a couple key players out of the lineup this week it could be a much closer game than it should be. The Badgers are a much better team on paper, but that is why they play the games. Look for Bucky to pull out a late touchdown in the fourth quarter to get the win. Badgers 31, Sun Devils 27.
Jesse (2-0, 0-2)
With both Toon and Gilreath expected to to sit out this game, the Sun Devils will receive a heavy dose of John Clay. The Badgers O-line will need to dominate the line of scrimmage if they plan to win this game. The other true test for the badgers will be their secondary
against the ASU offense that relies heavily on the pass. Expect a tight game with Bucky winning by less than a touchdown. Badgers 27, Sun Devils 21.
This will be my first trip to Madison this year for a game...I expect good weather, good food, good drinks, and a good game. The over/under for beers+shots+cocktails is set at 15&1/2...Go with the over!
Terry (2-0, 0-2)
Injuries, the spread offense, Threet, and the fact that ASU has had this game circled on their schedule all summer (ASU even arrived into Madison extra early to prepare for the game). I expect the Badger offense will be able to move the ball and score points but they won't be able to pull away from a team that is a lot better than UNLV and SJSU. ASU's offense will throw for 300 yards and keep them in the game into the 4th quarter. The home crowd will help the defense seal the victory with a late stop or turnover. Badgers 34, Sun Devils 30.
Trent (2-0, 0-2)
I had some trouble picking this game so I dud a little research. CoachB51, who seems pretty knowledgeable on college football, doesn't think too highly of the Badgers but then I read what he had to say about Arizona State and I'm feeling much better about UW's chances. UW isn't at full strength but ASU is playing its first road game and Division 1 team. Badgers 38, Sun Devils 21.
Noel (2-0, 0-2)
ASU keeps it close through halftime however Big John Clay grinds out a big second half while the UW defense gets a couple key interceptions to open the game up. Badgers 31, Sun Devils 17.
With both Toon and Gilreath expected to to sit out this game, the Sun
Devils will receive a heavy dose of John Clay. The Badgers O-line
will need to dominate the line of scrimmage if they plan to win this
game. The other true test for the badgers will be their secondary
against the ASU offense that relies heavily on the pass. Expect a
tight game with Bucky winning by less than a touchdown.
ASU +14
This will be my first trip to Madison this year for a game...I expect
good weather, good food, good drinks, and a good game. The over/under
for beers+shots+cocktails is set at 15&1/2...Go with the over!
