This Saturday the Badgers will be in Ann Arbor, Mich. to play No. 6 Michigan, who defeated No. 2 Notre Dame this past weekend. If their 47-21 win over the Irish is any indication, the Wolverines appear to have hit their stride, just in time to avenge last year's loss to the Badgers.
Michigan is the best team Wisconsin will play before Bowl Week, but recent history tells us that the Badgers may respond to the challenge; three years in a row, they have beaten the best Big Ten team they have faced. In 2003 the Badgers toppled the Big Ten's best, defending national champion Ohio State, and a year later beat the Buckeyes again. Last season, Wisconsin had a shot at Michigan for the first time in two years, and they stunned the maize and blue with a legendary, game-winning quarterback draw.
""Anybody that was a part of that game a year ago needs to, you know, try to share that experience as much as possible with our younger kids, the guys that haven't been in this type of situation or taken a snap against Michigan,"" head coach Bret Bielema said.
If the Badgers hope to beat the Wolverines for a second straight year, they will have to overcome two distinct disadvantages: Michigan's superior talent and deafening home crowd. Bielema addressed both of these factors, but dismissed each as inaffectual in regard to the outcome of Saturday's game.
""The great thing is, all of our guys have been playing football for a number of years, and every game they've played, there's been 100 yards, an end zone on both ends and visiting sidelines and home-team sidelines,"" Bielema said, referring to some of the Big House's more generic features. ""It's all about how you play on the field.""
His team would be well-served to mimic his tunnel vision, ignoring the atmosphere and focusing strictly on the football game before them. After all, the 1-0 approach is of like mind, and it certainly seems to be working thus far. But there is one thing that focus and confidence can't combat: Michigan's talent.
""The great thing is, the reason we play on Saturdays is to give everybody a chance,"" Bielema said, presumably addressing those who think Wisconsin has already lost. ""It's 11 on 11.""
But their 11 are better than ours, to date, so any possibility that Saturday's game will be an even contest, hinges on whether or not Michigan plays to the best of their ability. Therefore the Badgers best chance at victory is a Michigan hangover from last week, for which there happens to be great potential. Teams tend to under-perform following a game with so much build-up, and after answering the nation's questions against Notre Dame, the Wolverines may, to the Badgers' delight, play like they have nothing left to prove.
For the second straight year, Wisconsin has the fortune of avoiding the conference's strongest team—the Buckeyes—but the Badgers will still be able to embrace the underdog role when they take on Michigan, hoping to dash the Wolverines' titles hopes in the process of further entertaining theirs.
Hodge Suspended
Redshirt freshman linebacker Elijah Hodge was suspended Thursday two days after being arrested on a tentative felony charge of operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent.
Hodge was arrested Tuesday while attempting to leave the McClain Center on the moped under question.
Hodge cannot participate in games or practice until futher information on the case is determined.
