Wisconsin (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten) will host Purdue (4-6, 3-4) on senior day as the Badgers will honor a 13-member senior class that has posted a 40-11 record over the last four years. In addition, they have been a part of three bowl winning teams, which includes winning two New Year’s Six bowl games (2017 Cotton Bowl and 2017 Orange Bowl), been a part of a school-record 13-win season in 2017, and has gone 23-3 in games played in Camp Randall.
Wisconsin’s senior class will look to add one more win on Saturday when they play Purdue. Both teams have plenty to play for as a win over the Boilermakers will keep Wisconsin in contention of winning the Big Ten West division while Purdue needs to win their final two games to go to a bowl for a third straight year.
Making it important that Wisconsin gets off to a strong start and dictates how the game is played. The Badgers can do that by scoring quickly in the first quarter considering the Boilermakers have given up 85 points in the first quarter the most they have given up in any quarter this season.
If Wisconsin is able to do that it will likely be thanks to Jonathan Taylor as he seeks his third straight game of rushing for at least 200 yards. Purdue’s rush defense hasn’t allowed for a running back to top the 200-yard rushing mark on the season but in two career games against the Boilers, Taylor is averaging 270 yards a contest and is averaging 8.5 yards per carry.
The key to Taylor’s success will be neutralizing defensive end George Karlaftis as his 1.57 tackles for loss over Big Ten play ranks first. Wisconsin’s offensive line has done a good job this year of wearing opposing defenses down allowing for Taylor to consistently have success throughout the game and allow him to consistently pick up positive yards.
With Purdue averaging six tackles for loss on the season, the Badgers will need Jack Coan to make sure the Boilermakers can’t consistently load the box. Coan’s ability to distribute the football to one of his receiving targets will be important as opportunities will be there for him as he goes against a secondary that’s allowing 227.9 passing yards over Big Ten play.
Defensively, for Wisconsin, the Badgers will need to be able to slow down wide receiver David Bell. Aidan O’Connell who will be playing in his fifth game this season and is averaging 101 passing yards a contest will look for Bell early and often.
The Badgers secondary will be responsible to limit Bell as his 8.4 receptions over Big Ten play ranks first. It will be a team effort in slowing him down as Wisconsin’s cornerbacks will need the help from Wisconsin’s safeties to make sure he can’t get behind them.
If Wisconsin is able to limit his yards after the catch it will force somebody else to beat Wisconsin’s defense. Simply put Purdue doesn’t have enough playmakers on offense as the Boilermakers have only rushed for an average of 76.8 yards per game.
In the end, Wisconsin’s offense is able to control the clock as Taylor once again has an effective game running the football. While the Badgers defense is able to do enough in limiting Bell in the passing game thanks to the Badgers linebackers as there able to make their presence felt in Purdue’s backfield to disrupt the passing game. Wisconsin sends out the seniors on a winning note as the Badgers win 31-10.