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Well for me its time to move on from last week.  So this Saturday at noon EST Bucky goes in to Columbus to take on O$U.  This is a game that I have no expectations from UW.  Even when UW was playing really well I honestly don't think they would have won this game.  Now?  its going to be interesting to see with UW team shows up.  The hard nosed physical team or the one that crapped the bed last week.  

I can say this about the local O$U fans are actually extremely disappointed in UW (some more so than UW fans for losing) they wanted a solid top 10 team in UW to make this a better game when the playoff committee starts doing their thing.

I will be watching as the lone UW fan in a room of about 20 O$U fans so that could make for a long day.  My prediction is O$U 41 UW 13

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I don’t mind these types of games.  You pretty much assume they are going to lose and if they play well and put themselves in a position to win it’s a nice surprise. 

Historically the Badgers have stepped up in these situations and despite not having beaten O$U in their last several tries the games have been close. 

I would think a 20-17 type game or 24-20 type game sounds right.  It all depends on the QB.  If Coan plays well I think they will be in it.  If not?  I expect 15-20+ point Buckeyes win. 

Pikes,  O$U is extremely talented no doubt about it but they also haven't been challenged.  Their schedule has been very weak so far and no one has been good enough to stand up and punch them in the mouth.  That is something I think UW can do if they go in there with a nothing to lose mentality and take it to them.

I personally think the key will be O$Us OL vs. the Badger defense.  Their OL is young and they (and Fields for that matter) haven't faced a defense that comes from all angles at them.

All I know is that whenever this game is on it tests my domestic tranquility.  Mrs.Heckler is from Ohio and is a huge OSU fan and me being the Badgers fan.  I am not dumb though I keep my mouth shut.

UW was never as good as everyone thought. The running back is great. The QB is better than the progression of nameless duds they have had for years, but that isn't saying much. The WRs are probably better than they have had in a long time. The OL doesn't impress me that much other than Biadasz who I think it a top 20 player in the next draft (but Centers don't usually go that high).

Defense is way over rated. They are still slow. The DBs have and continue to be terrible IMO. They can't cover, they can't tackle and they cannot play the ball. Fast teams will eat them up.

NW wrote the script on how to beat UW a couple years ago. They followed it again this year and gave them a game with a bad roster. IL played the same game and won. They needed a couple of late breaks to do it but they did.

OSU I think wins by 3 or 4 TDs or more. They will force UW to win through the air (they can't) and their offense will rip off long plays repeatedly. You get a fast guy loose in UWs defensive backfield and they can't tackle him and they can't chase him down.

I think UW is a top 20 team but they should never have been in the championship consideration. They just don't have enough horses. They have the coaching but they need to figure out how to recruit. 

ammo posted:
The Heckler posted:

 

 I am not dumb though I keep my mouth shut.

Nor should you. 

I will keep quiet and sit in the corner with my beer.  I am going to be in a room with about 20 O$U fans and me.  So, I will be in the corner drinking some New Glarus and Torpedo IPAs, wearing my drink Wisconsinbly tshirt and UW hat.  If they lose I will enjoy the good beer and the good mood my wife will be in.

I still wish this could have been a 330 EST time game though.

I actually think an earlier game favors the Badgers.  A late or night game the fans tend to get a lot more cranked up.  

In the end it may not matter but I just have this hunch that the Badgers will come out and surprise people.  Not suggesting they will win, but I think they will show up and make it a game.  

Like me some Two Hearted Ales but Torpedo is very solid.   I’ll be running a race during the game so will have to tune in on the radio.  The good news is I’ve done this race 6 times now and the Badgers haven’t lost on those Saturday’s and don’t want to start now lol. 

Last edited by Tschmack
mrtundra posted:

It's time for Bucky to show that the Illini game was a fluke and come out and beat the perennial media darlings, called Buckeyes, to a pulp. Mr. Baun , Mr Orr and Mr. Sanborn it's time for you to start a feeding frenzy on OSU's QBs. Sacks for big losses and turnovers are the order of the day! GO BUCKY!!!

I have a lot of these discussions with friends in Michigan. Wisconsin's offense over the last two decades is capable of putting up big points on anyone if they other team fails to stop the run. If that gets established, they are capable of blowing out good teams and hanging with great teams. Wisconsin usually has NFL caliber offensive lineman and if the other team doesn't have NFL caliber front 7 guys it can bet ugly. When the other team has NFL caliber front 7 talent (or stacks 8 or 9 guys in the box), they can stop the run. 

If the other team stops the run (or at least contains it), then Wisconsin is capable of getting beat by even bad teams. When that happens, you need your QB to make a play. In the case there they are stacking the box, even average QBs can look good making throws to wide open WRs. When the other team has NFL level , you need a QB that can make throws to narrower windows. Other than one year of Russell Wilson (where the Badgers managed to lose two regular season games on Hail Mary's), the Badgers QBs have ranged from below average to slightly above average (Tolzien). Wilson could make those plays all the time, Tolzien was good enough to make those plays some of time. Coan so far has played not to make any mistakes and only throws if the guy is wide open. Even the interception against the Illini was not a terrible throw - the defender got a good drop and made a good play because they knew the route. To beat OSU, they have to have Coan be able to at least make the plays Tolzien could. We need to find out if he can. 

At some point next year, we'll find out if Mertz is at least as good as Tolzien (or this year if Coan is as good as Tolzien). That will be the difference between 8 or 9 wins and a trip to the Blockbuster/Garden State/Alamo Bowl and 11 or 12 wins and being a real contender for the BCS playoff. 

skully posted:
The Heckler posted:

  I am not dumb though I keep my mouth shut.

After The BADGERS beat OSU, and you accidentally mutter something  under your breath like  " WAY TO FRIGGIN GO BUCKY "  make sure to buy Mrs.Heckler

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51fAnE2YkKL._SL500_.jpg

I will make sure I keep the "way to go Bucky!" thought in my head.  Because if I don't she will hit me with that vase   But, I will take my chances on that it will be worth how happy I will be.

So I am currently at work and listening to all of the O$U fans talk about how little chance UW has against them.  They are all saying that it will be a 63-7 type of blowout.  

Michigan,  there is one key to this game and that is if the Badger OL can handle the OSU DL.  If they do their linebackers are their one weakness on defense.  They are small, not that fast and are weak against the tight end.  I would look for the UW game plan to include lots of passes up the middle to the tight ends and to get the ball to Taylor on sweing passes.  

 

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