Coming off a bye week that followed a whopping at home to Alabama, Wisconsin football begins Big Ten play tomorrow. The Badgers will travel to Los Angeles to take on the USC Trojans. USC enters this game at 2-1 following a 27-24 loss to Michigan last week in Ann Arbor. Conference play is going to be a gauntlet for the Badgers. Can they pull off a huge road upset to begin conference play? Kickoff is 2:30 PM on CBS. Here is a preview of tomorrow’s game.
Brayden Locke Has to be Just About Perfect
I would not ask Brayden Locke to throw the ball 30 or more times tomorrow, but when he does, he needs to be efficient with the ball. USC will likely bring the house and make Locke beat them with his arm. So far, we have seen his footwork usually goes away when there is a blitz and it results in errant passes or the ball being tipped at the line of scrimmage.
USC is one of the better teams in the country and their defense is playing better as well. They don’t need to get into 45-42 shootouts every single week. I still think this Wisconsin football team can put up points, but they have to stay on the field, be aggressive, and win the time of possession.
Wisconsin Football Needs to Run, Run, Run
I think the identity of this Wisconsin football team the rest of the season needs to be running the ball. They have the depth to run and a very talented offensive line to do it. At some point, you want Brayden Locke to be able to win you some games, but this is not the game.
The duo of Chez Mellusi and Tawee Walker have been really good in spurts. Cade Yacamelli provides a good combination of power and speed, I also think you get a freshman back like Darin Dupree as well. It’s obvious they don’t want him to redshirt. If that’s the case, play the kid.
Prediction
This feels like an Alabama kind of game, expect you’re on the road and the opponent isn’t as good as the Crimson Tide. I am having trouble finding concrete ways this Wisconsin football team can go into a sold out LA Memorial Coliseum and get a massive road win.
We will see how Brayden Locke plays now with two weeks to prepare and is game week mode as the starter. The Alabama game showed me even in the fourth quarter that there is still a ton left for him to work on. The foot work looks to be the same as last year and he has trouble putting air under the ball.
I will say I think Locke takes care of the ball and won’t be reckless with is. He will have to make plays on third down and he will have to make some throws. This game feels like it’ll be more about the running game and the defense.
Locke will have to win you some games this year no doubt about it. This just seems like a really bad matchup for him. If this is Tyler Van Dyke, I think this game is close.
If this Wisconsin football team can run the ball, I think this will be closer than most think. I like the USC offense and the deep ball Miller Moss can throw. Quarterback play is the difference in this game. I just don’t think this Wisconsin football offense can muster enough points in this one.
USC 31 Wisconsin 13
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