As the Wisconsin Badgers prepare for their season opener against Penn State, there are three keys to game the Badger must do in order to come out with a victory. It’s one of the biggest and toughest games on the schedule this season. If Wisconsin is successful in these three areas, they should come out with a win against a very good ranked team.
Contain The Penn State Offense
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Penn State is the high power offense. The Nittany Lions are led by three year starting quarterback Sean Clifford. Clifford has played in a number of big games in his career and will be looking to start his senior year on a high note. Not only his is arm a threat, but he’s a respectable runner as well. Wisconisn must know where he is.
Penn State is loaded at running back and receiver as well. Senior Jahan Dotson and Sophomore Parker Washington can take over any game and give Clifford two go-to receivers. The two combined for over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2020 They are also very athletic. Wisconsin has a veteran secondary and they’ll be relied upon early.
Penn State also has a number of running backs that can make an impact. look for Keyvone Lee, Noah Cain, and Baylor transfer John Lovett to all log in carries.
Force Turnovers
Wisconsin was able to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks last season, but they struggled to sack the quarterback. With an experienced defense coming back, it’s important the Badgers win the line of scrimmage and make Clifford uncomfortable.
In 5 losses last season, the Nittany Lions had a turnover margin of -9 while a +1 in 4 wins. It’s pretty simple: If the Badgers generate turnovers, they should come out with a win.
Fuel Off The Camp Randall Crowd
The Badger faithful will be loud and proud in this game. We haven’t seen fans in the stands in almost 2 years. Wisconsin needs to use this fuel and take advantage of it, especially on third down. Penn State won’t be phased by the crowd, but Wisconsin should be able to use the energy and take advantage of it.
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