Wisconsin vs Northwestern Prediction, Game Preview

Wisconsin vs Northwestern game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 6 game on Saturday, October 8

Wisconsin vs Northwestern prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 6, Saturday, October 8


Wisconsin vs Northwestern How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 8
Game Time: 2:30 ET
Venue: Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
How To Watch: BTN
Record: Wisconsin (2-3), Northwestern (1-4)
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Wisconsin vs Northwestern Game Preview

Why Wisconsin Will Win

There’s always someone who has it worse.

Wisconsin is having problems – more on that in a moment – but Northwestern hasn’t done anything right outside of a great final few drives against Nebraska back in Ireland.

Wisconsin can’t overcome turnovers, but Northwestern is doing its part to make up for it with 12 giveaways over the last four games, no running game, and an offense that stopped scoring.

With defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard taking over the interim reigns after Paul Chryst was fired, expect an even more jacked up performance from the D, and watch out for the ground game to get back to form against a Wildcat defensive front that’s getting run over.

However …

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Why Northwestern Will Win

Don’t be so sure that Wisconsin can run.

24 carries, two yards. that’s what the Badgers did in the program-changing 34-10 loss to Illinois. But that was just part of the problem – turnovers were the larger issue.

Three giveaways against Illinois and three in the loss to Washington State were devastating, and if history is any guide, Wisconsin can’t do anything right when it screws up against Northwestern.

Over the last nine meetings, the Badgers are -13 against Northwestern in turnover margin. Northwestern needs those Badger mistakes to get by, but …

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What’s Going To Happen

This isn’t going to be a case of a team rising up after the head coach is gone, but Wisconsin will come up with a solid performance because the team on the other side is just that bad.

The Wisconsin offense still won’t be anything special, but the offensive line will take it very, very personally that it got destroyed last week by Illinois. The defensive side will keep the Wildcats to under 300 yards of total offense.

CFN Expert Picks, Week 6

Wisconsin vs Northwestern Prediction, Line

Wisconsin 34, Northwestern 13
Line: Wisconsin -10, o/u: 44.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5
Wisconsin vs Northwestern Must See Rating (out of 5): 3

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Wisconsin vs Northwestern Prediction, Game Preview

Wisconsin vs Northwestern prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win this Saturday.

Wisconsin vs Northwestern prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, November 13


Wisconsin vs Northwestern How To Watch

Date: Saturday, November 13
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI
How To Watch: ESPN2
Record: Wisconsin (6-3), Northwestern (3-6)
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Wisconsin vs Northwestern Game Preview


Why Northwestern Will Win

Despite being outplayed overall, the 2020 Northwestern Wildcats came up with five takeaways in the 17-7 win over the Badgers.

The 2019 team lost, but it came up with two takeaways. The 2018 version got three turnovers and won, the 2017 team lost but took it away three times, and after not getting any in 2016, the 2015 Cats forced five turnovers in a 13-7 win.

Want to keep going?

The 2014 Northwestern team took the ball away from Wisconsin four times and the 2013 team came up with three turnovers.

That means in the last eight games between these two, Northwestern has forced 25 takeaways against Wisconsin.

Let’s just say Pat Fitzgerald and his team have figured something out.

The Badgers have chilled on the giveaways after turning it over 17 times in the fist seven games this year, but it’s Wisconsin, it’s Northwestern …

You know what’s coming.

College Football Expert Picks, CFN Week 11

Why Wisconsin Will Win

Wisconsin always has a strong defense, but this one is at another level.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Georgia’s D is historically awesome, but it’s giving up 230 yards per game. Oklahoma State has the third-best defense in college football and it’s allowing 277 yards per game.

Wisconsin? 214 yards per game.

2011 Alabama ended up allowing just 184 yards per game in a modern-era all-time great season. No one else since then has finished a season allowing fewer than 250.

No one is running against the Badgers, including Army – Wisconsin allowed a season-most 179 yards against the run-only attack.

The Badgers are No. 1 in the nation in total defense, run defense, third down defense, and they’re fourth in scoring D – which isn’t really fair because the meltdown in the 41-13 loss to Notre Dame was on the offense and special teams – and fifth in pass defense.

Northwestern can’t consistently move the ball until it’s too late, the running game isn’t going anywhere, and worst of all, the run defense is the worst in the Big Ten just as the Badger O line and ground attack has found a groove.

But …

What’s Going To Happen

The turnovers.

That’s it. That’s everything.

Northwestern has the funkiest way against Wisconsin of being totally and completely outplayed yet still comes up with wins because of turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.

However, in this, Wisconsin is going to pound away too much and too well. Meanwhile, the Badger D that’s playing at a whole other level is doing its part with 12 takeaways in the last three games.

This matchup always defies all logic and reason, but assuming the Badgers keep the turnovers to under a gajillion …

College Football Schedule: Week 11 Predictions, Lines

Wisconsin vs Northwestern Prediction, Lines

Wisconsin 34, Northwestern 10
Line: Wisconsin -25, o/u: 41
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 2

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Wisconsin vs Northwestern Prediction, Game Preview

Wisconsin Badgers vs Northwestern Wildcats prediction and game preview.

Wisconsin vs Northwestern prediction and game preview.


Wisconsin vs Northwestern Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 21
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
Network: ABC

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Wisconsin (2-0) vs Northwestern (4-0) Game Preview

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Why Wisconsin Will Win

It’s only a two-game sample size, but Wisconsin has been totally dominant.

It was like this way early last year, too – and the the Illinois loss happened – but Wisconsin is being Wisconsin. It owns third downs, it’s No. 1 in the nation in fewest penalties per game, it’s No. 1 in run defense, No. 1 in scoring defense, and in the most Wisconsin way of all, it’s No. 1 in time of possession by a mile.

41:51. Again, it’s only a two-game run so far, but the Badgers are holding the ball for close to 42 minutes per game. Considering Northwestern lives on handling the tempo and making games go its way, Wisconsin’s ability to keep things moving is a problem.

More than that, Northwestern is about to have a rough time on the ground – the Badgers have allowed just two decent runs, giving up 178 yards in the first two games. The defense is swarming, but …

Why Northwestern Will Win

The Northwestern lines have been fantastic.

The run defense is a killer – only Nebraska got past 77 yards among the four games on the Wildcat schedule – and the offensive front has given the program a real, live offense again coming off a disastrous 2019.

Yes, Wisconsin controls the clock with gut-punch drives that grind out games, but that suits Northwestern just fine. The Cats have no problems on third downs on either side of the ball, they’re fine with the midrange passes without taking a whole slew of chances and playing the long game.

This team is a master of hanging around, hanging around, hanging around … and then pouncing when it gets the chance. No one knows that better than Wisconsin, especially in Evanston.

What’s Going To Happen

This was supposed to be played in Wrigley Field, but as is, the – most likely – game for the Big Ten West title will be just fine at Ryan Field.

Last year’s Northwestern team was a hot mess, and yet it gave Wisconsin a bigger fight than anyone did in the first six games. And why? Two takeaways.

In 2018, Jack Coan filled in for an injured Alex Hornibrook, wasn’t able to throw, Jonathan Taylor dropped the ball, and Northwestern came up with three takeaways in the win.

In 2017, Northwestern lost, but forced three turnovers. Famously, a fantastic Badger team turned it over five times in a loss to the Cats after giving it away four times in 2014 – both Northwestern wins.

Over the last seven years, Northwestern has forced 20 takeaways – Pat Fitzgerald has found a way to make the team that never screws up to always screw up.

The Badgers will pull this off, but it’s going to be a very tough, very nasty fight against a Northwestern team that’s the absolute real deal. Wisconsin’s defense will have to hold on for dear life on two late Wildcat drives with a shot at the win.

CFN Experts Picks, Predictions: Week 12

Wisconsin vs Northwestern Prediction, Line

Wisconsin 26, Northwestern 20
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Wisconsin -7.5, o/u: 44
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5

Must See Rating: 4.5

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