Wildcats Next Up For Badgers » Brats & Beer

October 5, 2006
posted under: Badgers football

Turning to happier thoughts than the woes of the Packers, the Badgers return to Madison this Saturday to host the Northwestern Wildcats. Wisconsin is 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big 10 and tied with Iowa so this weekend’s matchup is big in terms of keeping pace with the top teams in the conference.

UW is coming off a blowout win over Indiana, so it’s important for the Badgers not to lose focus on executing plays and playing solid football. Even after their 52-17 win over the Hoosiers, Wisconsin is ranked only sixth in the conference in scoring and eighth in offensive yards. The defense, meanwhile, is second best in the Big 10 in points and yards allowed.

The visiting Wildcats are 2-3 overall after losses to New Hampshire and Nevada and 0-1 in the Big 10 after losing their conference opener last weekend to Penn State 33-7. So far this year, Northwestern is ranked last in the conference in scoring and passing, and they are 10th in total offense. The Wildcats are in the middle of the pack on defense, allowing 21.4 points and 318 yards per game.

This should be another easy win for the Badgers, if not another blowout, but Northwestern is capable of an upset if UW doesn’t play quality football on Saturday. If the Badgers execute the way they did last week, John Stocco and PJ Hill should both put up big numbers against the Wildcats.