Purdue at Wisconsin
Kickoff: 11 a.m. CT
Location: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wis.
Weather Forecast: 43F, Partly cloudy, 10% chance of rain
TV: ESPN2
Radio: WIBA-AM 1310, WIBA-FM 101.5 and the Badgers Radio Network
Coverage: A week's worth of coverage at Bucky's 5th Quarter
Opposing Blogs: Boiled Sports and Hammer and Rails
The Consensus
Adam Hoge (6-1, +91): Wisconsin 27, Purdue 21
Jake Harris ( 6-1, +93): Wisconsin 31, Purdue 17
Benjamin Worgull (BadgerNation.com): Wisconsin 38, Purdue 23
The Reasoning
Wisconsin is coming off a bye week and is well-rested and healthy. John Clay and Garrett Graham got hurt during the loss to Iowa but will be back. Mike Taylor's season-ending knee injury is the only noteworthy problem on defense. While the Badgers lost their last two games, Ohio State and Iowa are probably the two best teams in the Big Ten. Purdue has made strides this season, upsetting Ohio State and beating Illinois after starting the season 1-5. New head coach Danny Hope is doing a good job teaching the Boilermakers his system and the team is progressing well. Still, they have not won a road game this season and Camp Randall Stadium is not an easy place to reverse that trend. The Badgers have yet to lose to an inferior team at home under Bret Bielema and Wisconsin is the clear favorite on paper.
Scott Tolzien should rebound nicely after two error-filled performances against tough defenses. John Clay could have a big day running the football against the second-worst rushing defense in the Big Ten. The Badgers' offensive line, which has been banged up since camp, might finally be healthy. Defensively, expect Wisconsin to give up yards to the Boilermakers' talented offense. Fifth-year senior quarterback Joey Elliott has 14 touchdown passes this season and forms a nice tandem with the conference's second-leading rusher, Ralph Bolden. Purdue runs a balanced attack, but Wisconsin's defense played well in its two losses and seems to have gotten better as the season has progressed. The Badgers will have what it takes to walk out of Camp Randall winners of their 23rd straight victory over an unranked team in Madison.
Who has the edge?
Offense: Purdue
Defense: Wisconsin
Special Teams: Purdue
Coaching: Wisconsin
Intangibles: Wisconsin
-Jake Harris