Coming off a three game winning streak and playing their best football of the season, Wisconsin football has a huge test on their hands tomorrow night. The Badgers will host #3 Penn State under the lights as a part of Homecoming week. The Nittany Lions had a bye last week and come into this game as one of the top running defenses on the Big Ten. It’s a huge opportunity for Wisconsin football to get their first signature win under Luke Fickell. Can the pull off the prime time upset? Kickoff is 6:30 on NBC. Here is a preview of tomorrow night’s game.
Can the Wisconsin Offense Run the Ball Against a Stout Penn State Defense?
Penn State has a really good run defense that allows just over three yards a carry. We all know by now this Wisconsin football team is becoming run first and want to establish it. This will be the toughest test so far in that category.
This is a game the Wisconsin offensive line has to win. They have been a solid group all year and will be asked to win the line of scrimmage. Tawee Walker will also be asked to break some tackles and get to the second level. I think it’s pretty simple: If UW can run the ball, they have a good chance to pull off the upset. If it falls on Braedyn Locke’s right arm, it doesn’t end well.
The Wisconsin Football Defense Needs to Pressure Drew Allar
Drew Allar is really smart with the football. Three of his four interceptions came in one game and one of those was a hail mary at the end of the end of the first half. It’s very rare he puts the ball in harms way.
I am not sure what this Wisconsin secondary can do against Allar, but I think the front seven, who is playing much better, has to find a way to get to Allar. Any quarterback that is under pressure is prone to turnovers. For a quarterback that doesn’t see much pressure, Wisconsin football defensive coordinator Mike Tressel will need to dial up the blitz. It will be on the front seven to get to Allar. If he has clean pocket all game, it will be a long night.
Prediction
This is a much different Wisconsin football team since the Alabama game almost six weeks ago. Tyler Van Dyke goes down with the season ending ACL injury and then your starting running back takes a leave from the team to focus on his health. At that time, it was hard to find five or six wins on the schedule. It was not looking good.
The Badgers have taken this up a notch in a very impressive way the last three games. Part of it is the opponents. We knew Rutgers wasn’t a true one loss team, Purdue just isn’t very good, and it’s always hard to win in Evanston. Still, this team has stuck together and they have found what works. It’s Tawee Walker and the deep ball.
These defenses were not that bad either, but Penn State is a different animal tomorrow night. They have talent all over the field and have had two weeks to prepare. I am sure they have seen a ton of film on the Wisconsin running game and will try to win this game running the ball on their end.
No way this team wins this game a month ago. Now? I think this is different. The confidence of this team seems to be rubbing off on the fans as well. There is a true identity now with what Phil Longo wants to do on offense. The defense is playing better and rushing the passer better. It’ll come down to if this defense can get to Drew Allar. I think they can. The vibes just feel different than it did going into the Alabama game. Luke Fickell needs a signature win as the Wisconsin football head coach. I think he gets it tomorrow night.
Wisconsin 24 Penn State 21
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