Reinstalled troops
The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Badgers, as it gave time for three starters on the defense to heal from minor injuries. Senior linemen Jonathan Welsh and Erasmus James, along with sophomore linebacker Reggie Cribbs, are all scheduled to make their return to the lineup on Saturday. Senior running back Anthony Davis is expected to be back at full strength after playing injured two weeks ago.
Backups have filled in admirably for the missing starters, but it should be exciting for Badgers fans to see one of the top defenses in the country at full strength and Davis back to doing what he does best. In particular, James' return may be the most vital to the squad, as his presence on the outside has given him national recognition as one of the top players in the country.
Sleeping giant
Plain and simple, the Minnesota football team underachieved this year, and has appeared to hit rock-bottom with its recent loss to perennial doormat Indiana last weekend. Losing three of their last four games, the Gophers enter Camp Randall unranked and with a losing record in conference play. Expectations were high at the beginning of the season after they won their first five games before eventually taking their annual loss to Michigan.
One has to wonder when the Gophers will finally come to play, and UW fans need to worry that the Gophers have the perfect opportunity to play the spoiler against the undefeated Badgers-something Wisconsin has been looking out for since playing Northwestern. This has the potential to be a very competitive game if the Badgers allow the Gophers to stick around in the game.
The Axe effect
The battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe is one of the most storied traditions in college football. The game between the border states is always close and hard-hitting, regardless of the records of either squad. The Axe provides added incentive, and the border battle is in the minds of all the players and fans in the stadium. The Gophers lead the series 59-46-8 after reclaiming the Axe last year on senior kicker Rhys Lloyd's 35-yard field goal while time expired to secure a 37-34 win at the Metrodome. At the last battle at Camp Randall in 2002, the Badgers were victorious and managed to secure a bowl berth after a midseason meltdown.
Look for the same energy this year, as both teams want to leave with the Axe in their possession and bragging rights for the rest of the year, especially with this being the last opportunity for the seniors at Camp Randall.
Potent backfield
When Minnesota is forced to play from behind, it has little chance of winning because its offense is primarily focused on the run. Junior Marion Barber III and sophomore Laurence Maroney give Minnesota the best running back combo in the Big Ten. Averaging 97.9 and 114.4 yards per game, respectively, they have the potential to take over the game and put up huge numbers on opposing defenses.
The Badgers, however, rank sixth in the nation in stopping the run, allowing a mere 89.1 yards per game. If the defense can continue its dominating play, it will be hard for the Minnesota duo to get anything going on the ground-especially with the dominance of the front four.
Maintain 1-0 focus
The Badgers cannot overlook Minnesota after watching both Miami and Florida State lose last Saturday.
Wisconsin moved into the top five in both polls and seem to be a lock for a Bowl Championship Series berth. The remaining three games are crucial, as they are expected to emerge victorious from each, making the Badgers a marked target in the Big Ten. There is little chance of the team sneaking up on anyone, like it had the chance to do a few weeks ago. With so many distractions-a Big Ten title, the possibility of the Orange Bowl, Senior Day and the Axe-the importance of staying focused has never been more important. There are six undefeated teams left in the nation and with the Badgers seemingly the least respected of the bunch, UW needs a solid and convincing win against the Gophers to start making a real run for a national title. A let down on Saturday could be disastrous, and the Gophers will enter Madison looking to not only crush the dreams of a Big Ten title, but a national title as well.
