Entering the 2007 football season, Wisconsin (3-3 Big Ten, 7-3 overall) and Michigan (6-0, 8-2) were both looking forward to what they expected to be great seasons as they were both ranked in the top 10. That, however, is why the games are played.
Michigan was on the wrong end of one of the greatest upsets in college football history, as Appalachian State shocked the Wolverines in the Big House the first weekend of the year. They followed that loss up with another blowout loss to Oregon on the same field.
Meanwhile, UW started off the season with a 5-0 mark, climbing as high as No. 5 in the polls before back-to-back defeats at Illinois and Penn State dampened their chances at the conference championship. A loss last week to No. 1 Ohio State officially ended the Badgers hopes of a Rose Bowl.
Needless to say, the respective seasons have not gone exactly as planned for either team. After its horrid start, however, Michigan finds itself on an eight-game winning streak and tied atop the Big Ten standings with Ohio State.
They're a good team, they have some good weapons, they have some talented players,"" senior tight end Andy Crooks said. ""We're playing at home, we just got to come out, we've got to execute, and we've got to kind of control the tempo of the game and try to play Wisconsin football.""
For UW, the defense has been a major issue except for a brief two game stint against Northern Illinois and Indiana, where neither of those teams were able to score a touchdown.
This week against Michigan, the defense will have to worry about stopping a bevy of playmakers, from senior quarterback Chad Henne and senior running back Mike Hart in the backfield to junior wide-out Mario Manningham and senior counterpart Adrian Arrington receiving the ball.
""Those two are very talented, especially Manningham,"" senior wide receiver Paul Hubbard said, referring to Michigan's wide-outs. ""They've got some very good weapons in those two players.""
With a banged up defense following injuries suffered last week at Ohio State, the Badgers will have their hands full with senior running back Mike Hart, one of the best running backs in the nation. Although he has been marred with injuries this season, it seems Hart will be at full strength against the Badgers as he hopes to keep his team's Big Ten title hopes alive.
""I think we have a lot to prove on Saturday, we put a lot into last week's game and I think we'll do the same thing here,"" senior kicker Taylor Mehlhaff said. ""I think everyone gets a little bit more excited when you play Michigan, so I don't think we'll have a problem at all getting up and getting excited for these guys.""
With sophomore running back P.J. Hill still uncertain due to a lower leg injury, UW will rely on freshman Zach Brown and sophomore Lance Smith. Smith, who has been unable to travel with the team this year, has played an integral part to the Badgers success at home, tallying 6.4 yards per carry.
A solid running attack will be key to keep Michigan's potent offense off the field, giving UW a great chance to win on senior day.
""You can go out with a bang,"" Hubbard said. ""You go out playing one of the better teams in the league... and you come out with a win, it's going to feel tremendously good.""
