Week 5: Wisconsin at Michigan

Like any good rivalry, the Wolverines and Badgers play to a close margin every time they face one another, regardless of whether one program is down and the other up. This time it’s Michigan who is feeling the effects of change and Wisconsin who is sitting near the top of the Big Ten. But the teams are much closer than their records suggest, and the final score may be closer than oddsmakers are guessing, as well.

The Badgers have had trouble in each of their three contests this year, and much of it has to do with the team’s inability to put opponents away. Michigan, on the other hand, has given games away, and its youth has yet to get in sync with coach Rich Rodriguez’s gameplan. Whichever team gets off to a hot start will ride that momentum to the finish line, and being that the game will be played in Ann Arbor gives the Wolverines a decided advantage.

Wisconsin may finally get some production out of its passing game. Although quarterback Allen Evridge has failed to impress through three games he has been efficient (60.0 percent, three touchdowns and one interception) and should be able to take advantage of a Michigan secondary which has allowed a Big Ten-worst 6.3 yards per attempt.

Notes:

The Badgers haven’t won a game in Ann Arbor in more than a decade. Two years ago Wisconsin suffered its only loss of the season at the Big House, 27-13.

This is the 500th game at Michigan Stadium, which opened on October 1, 1927.

Michigan’s Sam McGuffie will serve as Wisconsin’s biggest test to date. The freshman back is coming off of a huge performance against Notre Dame (29 touches and 178 total yards of offense).

Key Player (Badgers) – Mike Newkirk and Jason Chapman, DTs

The Badger defense must control the interior of the line and force Michigan to pass or try to go horizontal against Wisconsin’s speedy outside linebackers. That puts the pressure on the team’s senior defensive tackles to eat up space and make plays at the line.

Key Player (Wolverines) – Steven Threet, QB

The Badger secondary has had trouble this season, and injuries and mental errors are piling up. Threet is a youngster sharing time with another quarterback, but if ever there was a day for him to establish himself, it’s Saturday.

Wisconsin by 4