5th Quarter Consensus: Axe stays in Madison for sixth straight year
by Jake Harris on Oct 2, 2009 3:20 PM CDT
in Wisconsin Badgers Football
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PrintWisconsin at Minnesota
Kickoff: 11:00 a.m. CT
Location: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.
Weather Forecast: 44F, Showers, 40% chance of rain
TV: ESPN
Radio: WIBA-AM 1310, WIBA-FM 101.5 and the Badgers Radio Network
Coverage: A week's worth of coverage on on our Minnesota Game Page
Opposing Blog: The Daily Gopher
The Consensus
Jake Harris (4-0, +56): Wisconsin 27, Minnesota 21
Adam Hoge (4-0, +59): Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 24
Eric Levine (3-1, +84): Wisconsin 24, Minnesota 10
Ben Worgull (Scout.com): Minnesota 36, Wisconsin 31
"Wild Card" Pick (Gopherfootball.blogspot.com): Minnesota 34, Wisconsin 31
The Reasoning
Wisconsin is the better team on paper, leading the Gophers in nearly every offensive and defensive statistical category through four games. While Eric Decker is probably the best wide receiver in the Big Ten this season, his performance has not turned Minnesota into an offensive juggernaut. Scott Tolzien's accuracy, efficiency and good decision-making ability will be put to the test as he makes his first road start. Still, he hasn't thrown an interception since the first game of the year and has responded well as the defenses have gotten tougher.
The Badgers finally put together a good game on the ground against Michigan State with John Clay rushing for 142 yards - and never fumbling. Wisconsin's balanced offense and opportunistic defense, which forced four turnovers against the Spartans, should be good enough to win in Minneapolis. The Gophers' home-field advantage in TCF Bank Stadium is head and shoulders above any support they received in the Metrodome but, ultimately, this is an 11 a.m. kickoff in a 50,000-capacity arena, Minnesota has already lost once at home and the Badgers are the better team this year.
Who has the edge?
Offense: Wisconsin
Defense: Wisconsin
Special Teams: Minnesota
Coaching: Wisconsin
Intangibles: Minnesota
-Jake Harris
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I'll agree
that the weather definitely will favor Wisconsin. However, I mut disagree with the assertion that Wisconsin is statistically much better than Minnesota on paper. Minnesota has played a much more difficult schedule with games against California, Northwestern, Air Force (they are 3-1 now), and an underrated Syracuse team (they are 2-2, only losses coming to MN and Penn State). You can read more about it at The Daily Gopher. If you take strength of schedule into account, the teams appear to be evenly matched. I do think that cold, rainy weather will give you guys a definite advantage with your power running game (expect a big day from Clay) and our passing game may suffer.
Buck Bravo
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Badgers Football Schedule
| UNLV | Thu 09/01 | W 51 - 17 |
Oregon St.
|
Sat 09/10 | W 35 - 0 |
|
@
Northern Illinois
|
Sat 09/17 | W 49 - 7 |
| South Dakota Coyotes | Sat 09/24 | W 59 - 10 |
|
Nebraska
|
Sat 10/01 | W 48 - 17 |
|
Indiana
|
Sat 10/15 | W 59 - 7 |
|
@
Michigan St.
|
Sat 10/22 | L 31 - 37 |
|
@
Ohio St.
|
Sat 10/29 | L 29 - 33 |
|
Purdue
|
Sat 11/05 | W 62 - 17 |
|
@
Minnesota
|
Sat 11/12 | W 42 - 13 |
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@
Illinois
|
Sat 11/19 | W 28 - 17 |
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Penn St.
|
Sat 11/26 | W 45 - 7 |
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@
Michigan St.
|
Sat 12/03 | W 42 - 39 |
|
@
Oregon
|
Mon 01/02 | L 38 - 45 |
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