1. Impenetrable defense
Wisconsin (3-1 Big Ten, 6-2 overall) continues to showcase its stellar, shut-down defense week after week and its defense only continues to improve as the season progresses.
After Saturday’s game demolishing of Rutgers, the Badgers enter this week with the No. 1 ranked total defense (253.8) and the No. 3 scoring defense (14.1) in the nation.
Not allowing a single point to Rutgers and only allowing seven points in the last eight quarters of football, the Badgers’ defense has significantly helped in winning and setting the tone of the last few games.
Led by redshirt junior safety Michael Caputo and redshirt senior defensive lineman Warren Herring, the Badgers only allowed 139 yards of total offense in last week’s game to Rutgers, and at the conclusion of the first half, 21 of Rutgers’ 26 offensive plays went for two yards or less.
Because of Purdue’s lackluster offense, the Badgers should be able to hold the Boilermakers (1-4, 3-6) below 10 points Saturday.
2. Blossoming Corey Clement
With redshirt junior Melvin Gordon in the Heisman race and dominating the Badger headlines, a very productive season by sophomore running back Corey Clement has been overshadowed.
In Saturday’s win against Rutgers, the back scampered for 131 yards and two touchdowns, even surpassing Gordon in rushing yards for the day.
In the past three games, the explosive back has accumulated 385 rushing yards and four touchdowns, which essentially averages over 128 rushing yards and at least one touchdown in the past three weeks, making him one of the best complement backs in the nation.
Coming into this week’s matchup against Purdue, Clement will nearly have 700 rushing yards and will look to break the 1,000 yard milestone in the next few games.
Clement will serve as a perfect change of pace back in Saturday’s contest against Purdue, and fans should expect at least another 100 yard and one touchdown game.
3. Taking advantage of another soft Big Ten team
Ever since the realignment of the Big Ten this year, the Badgers have benefited from a rather weak schedule.
With previous matchups against crummy teams like Illinois, Rutgers, and Maryland, the Badgers have had success against Big Ten opponents this season.
Saturday’s contest should be just as easy for the Badgers, as they face yet another atrocious Big Ten opponent, Purdue.
Coming into this weeks contest, Purdue comes in on a three game losing streak and has already accumulated six losses this season.
This year, Purdue’s squad has also struggled mightily on defense, ranking 112 out of 125 nationally in total defense. The Boilermaker offense isn’t much better, ranking 88 out of 125 in total offense.
On Saturday, the Badgers should take care of Purdue in easy fashion as Wisconsin’s prolific rushing attack and stingy defense will carry the team.
4. The extension of the volatile quarterback situation
Almost every Badger fan can say that the quarterback situation for this season has been hazy at best.
Quarterback play can be attributed for losses against LSU and Northwestern, but at the same time, quarterback play has helped in wins versus Maryland, Western Illinois, and Bowling Green.
Two weeks ago, against Maryland, redshirt juniors Tanner McEvoy and Joel Stave shared snaps in the contest, but looked confident and almost flawless. In that blowout win, McEvoy finished the day with 84 rushing yards and a touchdown on only four attempts, while Stave threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
In Saturday’s pounding of Rutgers, however, both quarterbacks had an atrocious day throwing a combined 8 for 20, 87 yards, and an interception. Of those eight incompletions, two missed completely wide open receivers for touchdowns.
This Saturday, the Badgers will benefit from a soft Purdue defense, but quarterback play must improve in order to allow the running game to thrive. The quarterbacks will need to be ready for a tough stretch at the end of the season with games against Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota.
5. Absent receiving game
Last year, wide receiver Jared Abbrederis led the Badgers passing attack, accumulating 1,081 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
This year, however, the Badgers have had no one even come close to those numbers. The Badgers’ top two receivers have only registered 697 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
While quarterback play can be attributed to these low statistics, no wide receiver has stepped up this season, which has limited the Badgers’ passing game.
In Saturday’s matchup versus Purdue, the Badgers shouldn’t have a tough time against another weak defense, but this game is certainly an opportunity for a receiver to step up and showcase their talents.
