Wisconsin Football finally returns to the field tomorrow! After a bye week last week, the Badgers welcome the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to Camp Randall. Rutgers is out of the Big Ten East division so this will still count as a conference game.
Can Wisconsin keep the momentum going on offense as they have the previous two games? Can the defense continue their run of multiple takeaways? Kick-off is 11 AM on Peacock. The Badgers are currently 12 point favorites. Here is a preview of tomorrow’s game.
Can Wisconsin Football Establish an RB2?
There is no doubt losing Chez Mellusi for the season is a huge blow to this Wisconsin Football team. First off, your heart goes out to Mellusi after now a third consecutive season of a season ending injury. There’s no doubt Mellusi is a top 10 running back in the Big Ten.
Running backs Jackson Acker and Cade Yacamelli have a huge opportunity ahead of them. For as good as Braelon Allen is, he has an injury history as well and has ran out of gas come November his first two years.
Acker is a bigger running back like Allen. He is a converted fullback so he’s not afraid to welcome contact and hit the holes. On the other hand, Yacamelli is a great athlete and moved over to running back earlier this year. He has shown flashes of potentially especially in the spring practices. Wisconsin is going to need an RB2 the rest of the season. These two will have the ability to be that guy.
How Legit are the Scarlet Knights?
This is not the same Rutgers program has been abysmal for over a decade. It’s taken coach Greg Schiano time, but he is slowly built this program to what they want to be. Credit him and the Rutgers administration for remaining patient.
At 4-1, there’s a lot of things to like about this team. They run the ball well with running back Kyle Monangai, who leads the team with 471 yards and a 5.4 per yard average. Quarterback Gavin Wimsatt is a dual threat quarterback who can use his legs to escape pressure in the pocket. It’s also a solid defense who has beaten two power five teams in Northwestern and Virginia Tech. If I’m a Rutgers fan, I’m excited for the future.
Prediction
I am a little hesitant with the 12 points Wisconsin is given by the betting sites. I think it’s a little disrespect to what Rutgers has done. The four teams they have beaten are not very good, but two of those are power five teams. That should be something worth noting.
I think the Wisconsin Football defense could have their hands full with the running game. I would make Wimsatt beat me with his arm and take out the running game as the top option. Rutgers wants to control the time of possession and the line of scrimmage. It’s very similar to what Wisconsin has done in the past and something they are still able to do today.
These are pretty similar teams when you think about it. At the end of the day, I like what Wisconsin is doing on offense and I think the defense is making strides as well. This is a game where the passing game can take off and the running game can finish it off. Give me the Wisconsin Football in a close one on homecoming.
Wisconsin 24 Rutgers 16- Dylan Buboltz
When first thinking about this game, I wanted to look back at the match-ups the Badgers had previously against the Scarlet Knights. Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten, Wisconsin has never lost against the Scarlet Knights and averages 42 points per game in that span. From start to finish, Wisconsin has always been the better team. This year, however, could present the Badgers with some issues.
First, Rutgers has shown a strong ability running the football. Averaging nearly 200 yards rushing a game, the Scarlet Knights led by junior RB Kyle Monangai can wear down a defense. On top of that, QB Gavin Wimsatt’s dual-threat play makes him difficult to match-up against. Although not the strongest passer, Wimsatt makes up for it with his legs. He can scramble when needed and has frustrated defenses with his ability to avoid sacks. Not only is Wisconsin’s defense going to have their hands full, they’re going to need to avoid giving up big plays with missed tackles, something this Tressel-led group has struggled to do. Containing Wimsatt within the pocket has to be the focus by the Badgers front. If they fail to stop Rutgers rushing attack and let Wimsatt get out in space, it could keep Rutgers within striking distance.
Next, how does Wisconsin Football respond offensively with the loss of senior RB Chez Mellusi? With junior Braelon Allen taking the majority of the snaps, Head Coach Luke Fickell has stated that both redshirt sophomore Jackson Acker and redshirt freshman Cade Yacamelli will see increased roles. Even though Allen will see the majority of the carries, production from both Acker and Yacamelli could provide the Wisconsin Football offense with a significant lift. Along with that, how does the passing game continue to get better? With a strong first half showing against Purdue, a fast start led by Tanner Mordecai would help take some of that pressure off of a running back group that looks to fill the loss of one of Wisconsin’s team leaders.
This game, in many ways, fits as the classic “trap game”. With the bulk of Wisconsin’s season ahead of them, it wouldn’t be shocking if this Wisconsin Football team overlooked the Scarlet Knights, especially considering the opponents that they’ve played so far this season. Coming off the bye week though, I believe Fickell has this group prepared for what’s to come. Wisconsin Football will have their hands full, likely giving up points like they have in previous match-ups, but I believe the Badgers have the better overall team from top to bottom. Give me Wisconsin Football with a relatively ugly win at Camp Randall.
Wisconsin 30, Rutgers 17- Ben Spiering
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