Tag: wisconsin illinois

Wisconsin will face one of the program’s all-time legends on Saturday

Wisconsin will face one of the program’s all-time legends on Saturday:

Wisconsin is set for a trip to Champaign, Illinois on Saturday as the team looks to bounce back from its demoralizing 15-6 loss to Iowa.

The team is 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in Big Ten play. It cannot suffer any more conference losses with Iowa currently holding the tiebreaker and set with an easy schedule for the rest of the year.

Step one for the Badgers in returning to the top of the Big Ten West is beating Illinois, a program that embarrassed Wisconsin last year in Madison, is run by former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema and also employs Wisconsin great Jim Leonhard as a senior assistant.

The last note presents an interesting dynamic this Saturday. It will be Leonhard’s first game coaching against Wisconsin, albeit in an off-the-field role, since the program opted to pass him over to hire Luke Fickell as head coach.

College football is about storylines. And Saturday’s revenge game for Jim Leonhard is as good as a storyline will get.

Wisconsin vs Illinois Prediction, Game Preview

Wisconsin vs Illinois prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 9

Wisconsin vs Illinois prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 9

Wisconsin vs Illinois How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 9
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
How To Watch: BTN
Record: Wisconsin (1-3), Illinois (2-4)
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Wisconsin vs Illinois Game Preview

Why Wisconsin Will Win

The defense is still outstanding.

There’s no excuse for the Badgers to be 1-3 no matter what, but Penn State, Notre Dame, and Michigan are all very, very good. They’re also ranked high partly because they beat Wisconsin.

The Badgers are still third in the nation in total defense even after the problems in the loss to Michigan. They’re still No. 1 against the run, they’re still devastating on third downs, and they’re just a little bit of offensive production away from being even better.

Illinois can’t convert on third downs. It’s done the impossible and is worse than Wisconsin in the red zone, it can’t keep offenses from keeping the chains moving, and the passing attack is woefully inefficient.

Wisconsin can’t EVER survive giveaways. It was more than that with Michigan, but the mistakes were the difference against Penn State and opened the floodgates against Notre Dame.

Going back to the 2020 Rose Bowl loss to Oregon, Wisconsin is 5-0 when it doesn’t turn the ball over and 0-7 when it does. So just don’t turn the ball over.

But …

– Week 6 CFN College Football Expert Picks

Why Illinois Will Win

Illinois has forced two takeaways in each of its last four games.

For all of the problems in the start of the Bret Bielema era – it has yet to lose the turnover battle – the run defense hasn’t been all that bad, and the ground game is coming off a 336-yard performance.

And now his Illini get a hot mess of a Wisconsin team in Champaign.

Along with beating dead last in the nation in turnover margin, the Badgers are the second-worst in the country on third downs, the return game has been awful, and the team can’t run.

QB Graham Mertz isn’t getting a whole lot of help and now the pressure to not screw up is a ten-ton weight. He’s expected to go after suffering a rib injury against Michigan, but Chase Wolf – who only hit 3-of-8 passes last week – might get the call.

– Week 6 College Football Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

It’s the Bret Bowl, but does that mean Illinois will try super-extra hard because its coach used to be the head man at Wisconsin?

Yeah. That, and beating the Badgers is still a big deal in the Big Ten West.

It’s not going to happen. The Wisconsin offense will start to get its groove back on the ground against an Illinois front that hasn’t been powered on. There will be one Badger turnover, but not two.

The defense will take care of the rest.

– Week 5 CFN NFL Expert Picks

Wisconsin vs Illinois Prediction, Line

Wisconsin 30, Illinois 16
Line: Wisconsin -10, o/u: 42.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: When Facebook and Instagram are down
1: The Bradshaw Bunch

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Wisconsin vs Illinois Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview

Wisconsin Badgers vs Illinois Fighting Illini prediction and college basketball game preview.

Wisconsin Badgers vs Illinois Fighting Illini prediction and college basketball game preview.

Wisconsin vs Illinois Broadcast

Date: Saturday, February 6
Game Time: 2:30 ET
Venue: State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
Network: FOX

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Wisconsin (14-5) vs Illinois (12-5) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college basketball, go to BetMGM

Why Wisconsin Will Win

Can the Badgers put together two decent shooting games in a row, at least from the outside?

They don’t have to be lights out from the field to win games – they know hot to clamp down when they have to – but threes matter. They were dead-cold on the road against Penn State and were never in it, and then in a rematch a few days later hit half of their threes and won easily.

They have yet to lose this year when hitting 40% from three, and only lost once when hitting 33% or better – Illinois is one of the worst teams in the Big Ten at defending from three. The Illini D has allowed 40% or more from there in four of the last five games and five of the last seven.

Why Illinois Will Win

Illinois continues to be outstanding on the boards. They skewed the stats with a ton of big boarding games over the first half of the season, but they really are just that good at going to grab misses.

This isn’t a bad rebounding Badger team, but there aren’t a slew of offensive boards – which is what happens when you hit your shots – and for all of the great things the defense does, it doesn’t take the ball away. Illinois moves the ball around too well and should be able to avoid a slew of big mistakes for easy UW points.

What’s Going To Happen

Illinois will be fine at home.

Wisconsin has alternated win-loss-win-loss-win over the last five games, and again, it’s all about whether or not it’s hitting from the outside. Illinois is shooting too well, too good on the boards, and it doesn’t turn the ball over enough to give away a close fight.

Wisconsin vs Illinois Prediction, Line

Illinois 75, Wisconsin 69
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM
Illinois -4.5, o/u: 136.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 3.5

5: Watching Super Bowl on the coach (with power nap)
1: Watching Super Bowl with other people

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Badgers continue their rise in new Amway Coaches Poll

Wisconsin Badger football finally returned to our television screens on Friday night as they started their season with a statement…

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Wisconsin Badger football finally returned to our television screens on Friday night as they started their season with a statement victory, rolling over the Illinois Fighting Illini 45-7.

Thanks to the dominant win and a wild first weekend in the Big Ten, the Badgers rose three spots in the new Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports–up from No. 14 to No. 11.

Related: Studs and duds from the Badgers’ 45-7 victory against Illinois

The 1-0 Badgers find themselves as the second-ranked Big Ten team behind only the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes. Other conference foes in the rankings are Michigan at No. 14, Penn State at No. 17 and Indiana at No. 19.

Related: Five stats that defined Wisconsin’s dominant win over Illinois

Paul Chryst and his team will be back in action on Saturday when they face off against the 0-1 Nebraska Cornhuskers.

 

Next…the full rankings

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Wisconsin 45, Illinois 7: 5 Thoughts, Instant Reaction, Graham Mertz Debut

The instant reaction, thoughts, and and what matters after the huge performance by Graham Mertz in the 45-7 win over Illinois.

The instant reaction, thoughts, and and what matters after the huge performance by Graham Mertz in the 45-7 win over Illinois.

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5. The Badger running game needs some work

Nitpicking time in a blowout win in the Big Ten debut …

The Wisconsin running game will need to be a bit more Wisconsin-like.

The offensive line was fine overall, and the ground attack got better as the game went on and everything started to slip away, but the 54 carries for 182 yards and a score wasn’t dominant enough for this program.

There’s no Jonathan Taylor, and there might not be a superstar in the backfield until freshman Jalen Berger gets his shot, but the running back by committee thing worked well enough.

And if the offense has to rely on the new superstar quarterback, that’s fine until the ground game can become a killer again.

4. Illinois needs to sink or swim with one of the younger quarterback

Who’s your star going forward, Illinois?

Brandon Peters is the senior quarterback for a veteran team, but he only completed 8-of-19 passes for 87 yards. His biggest contributions were a few big dashes to make him the team’s leading rusher. While he’s the easy veteran call going forward, Isaiah Williams was the star recruit of last year who needs to be the one to develop. At the very least, he needs to be a bigger part of the rotation – Peters still deserves to lead the team forward.

Granted, almost everyone will look awful against the Badger D, but the Illini failed to score an offensive point, there wasn’t any creativity to the passing game, and the team needs a star to build around. Illinois needs to know over the course of this abbreviated season if Williams is it.

3. Yeah, Graham Mertz was amazing, but …

The Badger quarterback had a whole lot of time to work behind an offensive line that needed a little while to get into a lather, but held at bay a dangerous veteran Illinois defensive line that’s going to be great at getting to the quarterback as the year goes on.

There were a whole lot of mistakes by the Illinois secondary, but the receivers found their way open, Mertz was firing to a whole lot of targets in space, and the rest of the parts of the offensive puzzle helped him out.

The defensive front was phenomenal, the team held on to the ball for over 43 minutes, and …

NEXT: Yeah, Graham Mertz was AMAZING, and what’s next for Wisconsin and Illinois?

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Instant analysis: Graham Mertz shines as Wisconsin rolls over Illinois

Wisconsin Badger and Big Ten football are back with Graham Mertz’s remarkable performance leading the Badgers past the Illinois Fighting…

Wisconsin Badger and Big Ten football are back with Graham Mertz’s remarkable performance leading the Badgers past the Illinois Fighting Illini 45-7.

20/21 passing, 248 yards, 11.8 yards-per-attempt and 5 touchdowns was the final line for Mertz, unbelievable numbers for any quarterback–let alone a redshirt freshman making his first collegiate start.

The Mertz hype is real and it seems like the sky is the limit for him moving forward.

He was obviously the story of the game, but there was more that went on tonight aside from the former four-star breaking records and lighting it up in his first start–those records being tying one with 17 consecutive completions and breaking another with five touchdown passes.

The first thing to note from tonight is Jim Leonhard’s defense shutting out the Fighting Illini thanks to dominant performances from all levels.

The defensive line? Allowed 16 carries for 51 yards and 3.18 yards-per-carry to Illinois running backs including a forced fumble early in the game.

Brandon Peters was effective using his legs, something the team will work on in the future. But Illinois running backs couldn’t find a single hole all night.

The linebackers? Flashed all night and shut down the middle of the field.

The secondary? Only allowed 87 yards to Illinois pass catchers and came away with a late interception.

Those 87 yards included only 3 receptions by Illini leading receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe thanks to a tremendous game by Badger cornerback Rachad Wildgoose.

It was a complete defensive performance that means great things for the team going forward.

The second thing to note is more on the concerning side: the Badgers were mostly inefficient running the ball and needed Mertz to take over in order to move the ball down the field.

The final stat line for the team on the ground was 43 carries for 156 yards, 3.6 yards-per-carry and 1 touchdown. The offense still performed extremely well, but if the team wants to close tight games going forward somebody will need to emerge from the backfield.

If you ask me, tonight pointed towards Garrett Groshek earning that role. But Nakia Watson and Isaac Guerendo are sure to still have significant roles moving forward.

Third, and arguably most importantly, the Mertz–Jake Ferguson connection looks unstoppable.

The two connected 7 times for 72 yards and 3 touchdowns, showing shades of Florida’s Kyle Trask–Kyle Pitts connection.

I thought going into the season he would be the freshman quarterback’s favorite target, but I didn’t see them being that good.

The final thing to note is the coaching.

It’s safe to say that Paul Chryst and his staff were a severe mismatch for Lovie Smith and company, as all throughout the game the Badger staff dialed up perfect play calls that found mismatches and put their players in positions to succeed.

It was an impressive performance overall and starting 1-0 is always the goal. Are there still areas to improve? Absolutely. But Badger fans should be thrilled about the team’s performance tonight and their outlook going forward.

Wisconsin vs Illinois Prediction, Game Preview

Wisconsin Badgers vs Illinois Fighting Illini prediction and game preview.

Wisconsin vs Illinois prediction and game preview.

Wisconsin vs Illinois Broadcast

Date: Friday, October 23
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI
Network: BTN

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Wisconsin (0-0) vs Illinois (0-0) Game Preview

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Why Illinois Will Win

The Badgers are starting out with a whole new offensive backfield.

Jonathan Taylor is off being busy as an Indianapolis Colt, and with Jack Coan hurt, it’s the start of the Graham Mertz era at quarterback. The offensive line is still being settled, and a new No. 1 receiver has to emerge in place of Quintez Cephus.

The Illinois receiving corps has the potential to be dangerous for veteran QB Brandon Peters. Josh Imatorbhebhe is back after burning the Badgers in last year’s stunning Illini win, the offensive line comes back experienced, and the secondary should be an instant positive. However …

– CFN Experts Picks: College

Why Wisconsin Will Win

Illinois still doesn’t have an offense worth worrying about, and now it has to deal with a loaded Badger defense.

There were a few good moments for the Illini – particular against the Badgers – but the O line was miserable in pass protection and the team was the third-worst in the nation in time of possession. The Badgers get back 18 of the 20 top tacklers, the defensive line is going to be a killer, and you know exactly what’s coming from the offensive side.

Grind, grind, and grind some more. With all of the new parts, Wisconsin isn’t going to get tricky, it’ll hold the ball for almost 40 minutes, and …

– CFN Experts Picks: NFL

What’s Going To Happen

The Badgers will get their revenge.

It took about six things to go absolutely right down the stretch for the Illini to pull off the 24-23 win last season, but this year should be different right away for both sides.

This is an okay Illinois team, but the Badger defense is going to ramp it up right away, and Mertz is going to show off why he was such a massive recruit for the Badger program last year.

2020 Big Ten Preview
Big Ten Schedules, Win Totals | Big Ten Overview
Big Ten Keys Offense | Big Ten Keys Defense

Wisconsin vs Illinois Prediction, Line

Wisconsin 34, Illinois 13
Bet on Wisconsin vs Illinois with BetMGM
Wisconsin -19.5 o/u: 51
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

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How Wisconsin’s defense will find success against Illinois

Wisconsin football and good defense: words that are seemingly inseparable. Tomorrow the new-look Badger defense will take the field and…

Wisconsin football and good defense: words that are seemingly inseparable.

Tomorrow the new-look Badger defense will take the field and look to build upon their impressive 2019 campaign, though obviously will do so without the services of Zack Baun and Chris Orr.

As I wrote in my five keys to victory, there are two major things the Badger defense must do tomorrow if they want to shut down the Illinois Fighting Illini and help the team come away with a victory.

Related: Players to watch in the Illinois vs. Wisconsin matchup tomorrow

The first: they must hold Illinois to under 3 yards-per-carry.

As Defensive Coordinator Jim Leonhard said this week, “for us it always starts with stopping the run. When we do a good job of stopping the run we can dictate a little bit more, we can be a little more aggressive.”

Any Badger fan when asked about what the defense needs to do well would cite the run game, but it’s more than just shutting down the opposing running back. If they can hold the Fighting Illini to under 3 yards-per-carry they will force the issue in the passing game and create turnovers, get their opponent to third-and-long scenarios and get off the field and, overall, allow the Badger offense to dictate the football game.

You don’t need me to tell you this, but the unit did not do that last season when they visited Illinois as they allowed 141 yards on the ground with a clip of 4 yards-per-carry.

This isn’t only about last year’s contest between the two, though, as holding opponents to less than 3 yards-per-carry last season actually had a significant effect on whether the Badgers won each game.

Their record last season when they held their opponent to less than 3 yards-per-carry? 8-1 with the only loss coming against Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

Their record last season when didn’t? 2-3.

It sounds obvious at first, but shutting down the Fighting Illini in the running game will dictate whether the defense is effective.

Related: Breaking down the strangest stat from last year’s loss at Illinois

Now on to major focal point No. 2: taking Illinois wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe out of the game.

Last year Imatorbhebhe was the Fighting Illini’s leading receiver with 33 catches for 634 yards and 9 touchdowns, one of those catches being a 29-yard touchdown against the Badgers.

Leonhard returns his entire secondary from last season–a unit that projects to be one of the best the conference has to offer. So, for them to shut down the Illinois passing attack on Friday they must take Imatorbhebhe out of the game.

The wide receiver is a big, physical, point-of-catch, big-playmaking wide receiver with late-round NFL Draft potential. Oh, and he averaged an insane 19.2 yards-per-reception last year.

Leonhard’s secondary has the talent to shut him down but it will need to be done on the field if the defense is going to play a complete game and have success.

 

If the Badger defense comes out on Friday and consistently wins in the trenches against Illinois in addition to shutting down Imatorbhebhe they will have a successful outing. If not? It could become a close game and give Badger fans scary flashbacks to last year’s contest.

Coach Chryst discusses the Badgers’ status with COVID-19 heading into Friday

We are now just two days away from the Wisconsin Badgers’ first game of the 2020 football season. Although the Big Ten is starting this…

We are now just two days away from the Wisconsin Badgers’ first game of the 2020 football season.

Although the Big Ten is starting this weekend, other conferences have played up to five games already after starting their seasons on schedule in early September. Those first five weeks in the ACC, Big 12 and SEC have not been without interruption, though, as several games have already been cancelled due to positive COVID-19 tests and re-scheduled to be played in December.

This will be something to watch with the Big Ten, as due to the conference starting late it now needs to fit in eight games in as many weeks–losing the bye weeks and flexibility it had with its initial conference-only schedule.

Related: Five keys to a Wisconsin victory on Friday.

Head Coach Paul Chryst spoke to the media today before his team’s upcoming game and was asked about where the team is in terms of positive COVID-19 tests and what the conference has done to ensure the safety of its players, coaches and everybody involved.

“I’ve been proud of the way the kids are handling it,” Chryst said. “And you know, it’s a day-to-day thing…So knock on wood right now. And you just hope it stays that way.”

Schools from the SEC and other conferences have been secretive about who has tested positive to not give information to their upcoming opponent. I guess you can say that’s what Chryst achieved with his answer.

The Badger head coach was then asked what the conference has done in terms of protocol since the preseason preparation began a few weeks ago.

“I know one thing that was talked about was continuing to take all of the data and make everything data-driven. Obviously we’re one of many teams…Our first day of testing, even the testing group, it took a little bit. But it’s a great group and they’ve done a nice job. It’s part of your every day and it’s been pretty smooth procedurally. And I know the league has spent a lot of time…I’m probably on a need-to-know basis on a lot of things that are going on, right, but it’s obviously important to everyone and I’m confident that everyone has done their part. From the players’ and coaches’ end of it, it’s one more thing you do but it becomes part of your day…guys are used to it.”

More information will become available as kickoff nears, but this morning there were no significant facts to note from Chryst’s press conference in terms of COVID-19 tests within his team.

Stay tuned in to BadgersWire throughout the week as we preview Friday’s contest against Illinois and get you ready for the team’s 2020 football season.

Wisconsin faces a familiar foe in new USA TODAY bowl projections

After weeks of USA TODAY Sports and other outlets projecting the Wisconsin Badgers to face the Auburn Tigers in their bowl game this…

After weeks of USA TODAY Sports and other outlets projecting the Wisconsin Badgers to face the Auburn Tigers in their bowl game this winter, there is finally a projection change to talk about.

This obviously due to Auburn’s early-season performance, a 2-2 start with a tough road left ahead, and the Badgers still waiting to take the field, variables which have held UW towards the top of the bowl calendar and allowed another team to rise and join them.

Related: Five keys to a Wisconsin victory on Friday

That team is the BYU Cougars, a school that upset the Badgers back in 2018 when Paul Chryst’s team was No. 6 in the nation and had Big Ten Championship aspirations.

This recent USA TODAY projection has the two teams facing off in the Fiesta Bowl, with Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson and Oregon forming the College Football Playoff.

 

Speaking realistically, a Fiesta Bowl appearance would be a success for the 2020 Badgers. No, not because it means they lost the conference championship and their shot at the playoff, but because it would mean that they and the rest of the Big Ten were able to finish their regular season.

We’ve seen cancellations due to COVID-19 all across the college football landscape thus far, and since the Big Ten must play eight games in as many weeks in order to finish on time for the bowl schedule, just finishing the season in full would be something to celebrate.

Oh, and vengeance against BYU would be a pretty good consolation prize.