Northwestern/Wisconsin preview

Following the week off, the Wisconsin Badgers take on the Northwestern Wildcats. Northwestern, at 2-1, also is coming off a bye week. Wisconsin is entering this week after playing its best game of the young season two weeks ago against BYU. Northwestern bounced back against Bowling Green, crushing the Falcons 49-7, after being destroyed at Duke the week before. The last time these two schools met at Camp Randall Stadium, Jazz Peavy caught a game-winning touchdown, but the refs ruled it incomplete because no one knows what a catch is any more. In last year’s meeting, Wisconsin went into Evanston and came away with a 21-7 win, its first win at Northwestern since 1999.

When Wisconsin runs...

True freshman running back Jonathan Taylor has been a monster thus far for Wisconsin, leading the Big Ten in rushing yards per game. In addition to leading the Big Ten in rushing yards per game, he is 15th in college football in rushing yards, Taylor is averaging an incredible 8.3 yards per carry. As a team, the Badgers are 12th in the country in rushing yards per game. Northwestern has started slow, having been thrashed by Duke, and is 79th in the country in rushing yards allowed per game. We still don’t know if starting guard Jon Dietzen will be good to go, but Wisconsin will be fine either way. I think Taylor and sophomore Bradrick Shaw will find some running room once again and the Badgers will have around 200 yards rushing once again.

Edge: Wisconsin

When Wisconsin passes...

I wish I could tell you which Alex Hornibrook will show up this Saturday. Against BYU, the sophomore signal caller was flawless. He went 18-of-19 against the Cougars and the only incompletion was dropped. But in the previous week, he was not very good. Hornibrook was inaccurate, even on some of his completions. He will need to work on his consistency. The Badgers still have a number of weapons for the sophomore. Quintez Cephus has emerged as a very reliable receiver to go and Danny Davis has made some plays to go along with reliable targets, Jazz Peavy and Troy Fumagalli. In terms of passing yards allowed per game, the Windy City Kitties are 90th in passing yards allowed, but are 42nd in opponents passer rating. Northwestern cornerbacks are dropping like flies, so the Badgers will need to take advantage. The Wildcats have only intercepted two passes and registered four sacks on the year.

Edge: Push

When Northwestern runs...

As good as Justin Jackson is, the senior has only rushed for 248 yards this season so far. He finally got going against Bowling Green, rushing 18 times for 121 yards and scoring three times. Prior to that game, against Nevada and Duke, Jackson rushed 37 times for 127 yards for an average of 3.4 yards per carry. Wisconsin comes into the game 10th in the country in rush yards allowed per game, allowing just 90.7 yards. The key will be stopping Jackson. If the Badgers do that, they will win. In the 2015 win, Jackson rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown in the Wildcats “win.” However, in last year’s meeting, the Badgers defense shut him down to the tune of 42 yards on 13 carries. His 42 yards were tied for his lowest outing of the season. If Wisconsin can slow down Jackson, Bucky will be in great shape.

Edge: Wisconsin

When Northwestern passes...

Northwestern junior quarterback Clayton Thorson has played two really good games, but had a terrible game in Durham to hurt his numbers a bit. In the two wins, he has a completion percentage of 75 percent for 722 yards with four touchdowns and one pick. In the loss, he completed 11-of-29 passes for 120 yards and two interceptions. The two wins came against teams that are a combined 0-8, so take it for what it’s worth. He has a few solid targets. First, sophomore wide receiver Bennett Skowronek has 12 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns. Another is tight end Garrett Dickerson. The senior tight end caught five passes for 38 yards in the first two games combined, but broke out with nine catches for 150 yards last week. Wisconsin’s secondary will be tested, but I think the Badgers are up for it.

Edge: Wisconsin

Special Teams

Northwestern's kicker is freshman Charlie Kuhbander has made two of three field goals so far with a long of 40. Wildcats punter Hunter Niswander is one of the best punters in the nation and is a real weapon for the Kitties. He averages nearly 50 yards per punt on his dozen punts this season. Northwestern is 111th in kick return average and 122nd in punt return average. Rafael Gaglianone is 3-of-4 on the year in field goals, but with a long of just 29 for the Badgers. Anthony Lotti is in the middle of the conference in net punting, but four of his 10 punts landed inside the opponents 20. Surprisingly, Wisconsin is in the top 20 nationally for average yards per return. Like Northwestern, Wisconsin struggles at returning punts. Wisconsin has the edge at everything but punting. But Niswander is a real weapon for them.

Edge: Wisconsin

Overview

Wisconsin and Northwestern have hooked up in some real wild games in the past, including the last game at Camp Randall. I think Hornibrook will have a nice game once again, and that will help the running game dominate once again. The Badgers will jump out early and force Thorson and the inexperienced receivers to beat them. Jackson will be slowed down for the second straight meeting and Wisconsin coasts to a 4-0 start.

Prediction: Wisconsin 27, Northwestern 13