clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Wisconsin football: rooting interests for Nov. 2

November is here and the Badgers don’t control their own destiny. Time to scoreboard watch!

@B5QPhotos; Matt Fleming

The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers (6-2 overall, 3-2 B1G) are on a two-game losing streak and enter their second bye week of the season in a major funk. Getting smacked around by Ohio State isn’t that big of a shock, but doing so after losing to friggin’ Illinois...well, that calls for some serious self-reflection.

While I would suggest enjoying a weekend off from football, I, for one, am going to watch the Wisconsin women’s hockey team play Minnesota on Saturday for instance, I know results and scenarios will still be in the back of your head regardless of what you end up doing.

So, let’s take a look at the current B1G West standings:

B1G West Standings 11/1/19

Place Team Conference record Overall record Streak
Place Team Conference record Overall record Streak
1 Minnesota 5-0 8-0 W8
2 Iowa 3-2 6-2 W2
3 Wisconsin 3-2 6-2 L2
4 Nebraska 2-3 4-4 L2
5 Illinois 2-3 4-4 W2
6 Purdue 1-4 2-6 L2
7 Northwestern 0-5 1-6 L5

Sitting in third place entering November is not where the Badgers wanted to be, nor where people thought they would be after starting the season 6-0. But, alas, here we are.

The B1G slate is pretty light on games this week with only four conference match ups on the schedule. Let’s breakdown who we want to win each one and why!

No. 14 Michigan at Maryland, 11 a.m. CT, ABC

The Badgers don’t have the Terps on their schedule this year. The Badgers have already pounded Michigan into dust on their schedule this year. We definitely want Michigan to keep winning to make Wisconsin’s win over them look better. Go Blue.

Nebraska at Purdue, 11 a.m. CT, FOX

Both the Boilers and the Huskers probably figured that this game would have major division implications back when they were looking at the schedule in August. It...does not. Both of these teams stink, however, both teams are still on Wisconsin’s schedule. As hilarious as it would be for Nebraska to lose to a depleted Purdue team, for the good of the Badgers they need to win. Beating a presumably, eventually bowl eligible Nebraska is a better win for Wisconsin than whatever it is Purdue is going to end up being.

Although, both teams are behind UW in the division so hopefully they just beat each other up and it doesn’t really matter who wins.

Rutgers at Illinois, 2:30 p.m. CT, BTN

Puke. This game makes me sick. Since the Badgers have already lost to Illinois this season (still feels weird to type) and Rutgers is in the East let’s not compound the embarrassment of losing in Champaign by having Rutgers do what Wisconsin couldn’t. Go Illini.

Northwestern at Indiana, 6:00 p.m. CT, FS1

#9WINDIANA needs this. Go Hoosiers.