CFN picks us and (WTF?!) has a pretty good write up/analysis
Fui must have spent a long time on this one because, outside of saying Indiana twice in one sentence instead of Indiana and Iowa, it's a pretty well thought out analysis (yeah, I know, and it's not even 2012 yet and we've got armageddon on our hands!).
What Will Happen: The team with the ball last will win. Wisconsin is a good, sound defensive team that’s about to get dragged down in a wide-open street fight. It’s not going to be Illinois-Michigan, but it’ll be a shootout with plenty of home runs and great offensive plays after great offensive plays. The Wolverines will unleash all the weapons, and Tate Forcier, who’ll step in after Robinson gets banged up, will lead the way to thrilling game-winning drive.
CFN Prediction: Michigan 47 … Wisconsin 45 … Line: Wisconsin -5
November 18th, 2010 at 9:44 AM ^
and UM doesn't need to play a near perfect game. they just need to not turn the ball over more than twice. (although i guess that IS near perfect isn't it? :p)
November 18th, 2010 at 9:45 AM ^
There have been plenty of times they picked Michigan but it was for stupid reasons like some other team doesn't have a rushing offense and that's our D's weak spot (uh, wha?) - I pointed this one out because the entire analysis is actually fairly well thought out and makes good points on both sides. That's why I mentioned he must have spent a lot of time on this because most of the time his predictions read like hack jobs of just looking at some stats and guessing based on that. Yeah, I like the fact that he picked UM but even if he picked UW 47-45 I'd still think it was a well written analysis even if I didn't like the pick.
November 18th, 2010 at 9:53 AM ^
I tend to agree with the column. Wisconsin plays a certain style which is easier to prepare for than other teams (schematically speaking). They run at you and run at you and run at you. It might not be easy to stop, but it is easy to prep your players for.
They also run a certain style of defense against us. We have played them a few times and we always seem to play very well against them. For some reason whenever Wisconsin is very good in a given year I always believe that we have a decent shot at beating them. They just seem to be the same every time with different player inputs.
November 18th, 2010 at 10:02 AM ^
Definitely run run run, then the occasional PA pass to Nick Toon to mix it up. If we can get someone that can be near that damn cutback lane (and can ahem, tackle) we may get a few 3 and outs. Im almost scared to see the TOP at the end of the game, let alone the score, if we don't.....
November 18th, 2010 at 10:29 AM ^
TOP as seen by this years Oregon team, is a pretty useless stat. I have heard all of the arguments before, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter if it takes you 2 seconds to score or 15 minutes. A score is the goal. If we can get a couple lucky turnovers we should be right in this one. If we turn it over it will be ugly. I will be there either way. It will be my last game as a student :'-(
November 18th, 2010 at 11:25 AM ^
for the most part. but a good TOP can wear on an opponents D by the end of the game when it might matter most.
November 18th, 2010 at 9:53 AM ^
Yes, that would make for excellent viewing.
November 18th, 2010 at 9:53 AM ^
I always get a little worried when they pick us in close games.
November 18th, 2010 at 9:55 AM ^
you got it wrong. The final score is gonna be closer to INFINITY to 0. Wisky gets 0
November 18th, 2010 at 9:59 AM ^
Not to be a downer, but I'd be extremely surprised if the "Why Wisconsin Might Win" section doesn't accurately describe how things end up happening Saturday. If we don't turn the ball over, Michigan can still win that type of game. But I definitely see Tolzien being able to methodically pick our secondary apart without much resistance.
November 18th, 2010 at 10:17 AM ^
most points scored against UW this season: 34 @ MSU
least points scored by UW: 20 @ ASU
November 18th, 2010 at 10:37 AM ^
they played ASU in Madison
November 18th, 2010 at 10:39 AM ^
my bad.
November 18th, 2010 at 10:31 AM ^
While we were much worse 2 years ago when we beat Wisconsin at home, they were also significantly worse. This is the best Wisconsin team in a few years, and they are just solid all over the ball. I think we're going to have to be close to perfect because this Wisconsin team doesn't beat itself.
One thing about last year, I remember Nick Toon really having a dominant game against us. He's been pretty close to a non factor this year hasn't he? That doesn't mean he won't go off again on Saturday, but he and Clay were their biggest playmakers last year against us and one may be out, and the other is not at the level that he was. I'll take those as positives going into gameday.
November 18th, 2010 at 10:41 AM ^
But his backup, James White, averages 1.4 YPC more than Clay. White is very shifty and has 714 Yards and 11 TD's on 105 Attempts.
Make no mistake - UW will shove the ball down our throats.
November 18th, 2010 at 10:41 AM ^
Matt Zemek is probably the "staff" writer of that column. Fiutak is strange and writes incompetently, but Matt Zemek is pretty good.
November 18th, 2010 at 10:48 AM ^
bleacher report also picked a mich victory
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/521002-michigan-wisconsin-preview-ca…
Final score, Michigan 31, Wisconsin 24.
November 18th, 2010 at 11:37 AM ^
Throw Drew Sharp in there, and we'll have the support of the entire Axis of LOL.
November 18th, 2010 at 10:43 AM ^
dang nabbit double post
November 18th, 2010 at 11:07 AM ^
Is that you?
November 18th, 2010 at 11:03 AM ^
Rittenbergy picks Wiscy 37-28. Says close until end when Wiscy offensive line and running backs seal the deal....
I respectfully disagree. We will put up too many points for their running game to come back. They will be forced to throw the ball to catch up. It will be close but we will pull it out despite their mild comeback...
November 18th, 2010 at 11:06 AM ^
does his B10 videos in his parent's basement. Hard edge.
November 18th, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
tells me they score 83 and are at least 4 point favorites. Do I take the bet? I jump in it. Opulence, I has it.
November 18th, 2010 at 11:21 AM ^
isn't quite enough to get me excited.
I think Michigan has a chance, mind you. It's just not a very good chance.
Wisconsin is a very, very good football team in all phases.
I think they're going to be the better of the two upcoming UM opponents (better than OSU).
November 18th, 2010 at 12:12 PM ^
and put the Glenmorangie by my desktop with the ice bucket. That seems to be my best combo for these noontime-starting heart-stoppers.
November 18th, 2010 at 12:18 PM ^
I'm not sure what will happen as far as the outcome of the game, but I'm positive two cans of Four Loko will die a painful death in my home during the game.
November 18th, 2010 at 12:39 PM ^
How about we just scream our collective arses off for the entire game and just see what happens next.
November 18th, 2010 at 12:53 PM ^
Michigan comes out in a 4-6 Bear Defense on first and second downs. Screw all the little dudes getting blown back on roller skates. Wisky will run up the middle and off-tackle all day. We need a good amount of beef in the middle. I know we have less linebackers than most years, but JB, Demens, Moundros, and Kovacs could easily fill the inside and outside spots if Mouton doesn't play.
My point is that a 3-3-5 stack or whatever version they decide to run this week will get pounded up the middle this weekend and next. We need to adjust to the smashmouth styles of our next opponents. Get 8-9 BIG dudes in the box, blitz off the edge, outnumber them at the point of attack, and study their 6 plays to get all the fits right.
Maybe we just outscore them and force them to pass more than they're comfortable with?
I know none of this scheme will really happen, but it's what I'd do. Who am I, and what expertise do I have? None/nobody. I really don't know what I'm talking about, but I am cringing in anticipation of them blowing gigantic holes through our interior defense. If you load the box with munchkins, it doesn't really help against the most physical offensive line in the country.
November 18th, 2010 at 1:09 PM ^
We need some help from the gods in this one.
We're long overdue for a decent November.