/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69845665/1235133900.0.jpg)
Here we are once again for another edition of Wisconsin Badgers football! The No. 18 Badgers (0-1 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) have been licking their wounds all week after falling to Penn State in the opening game of the season. A game against the Eastern Michigan Eagles (1-0 overall, 0-0 MAC) might be just what the doctor ordered.
Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton had some high praise for Wisconsin at his news conference today ahead of the teams playing Saturday. pic.twitter.com/ivA0HYL4Dn
— Jesse Temple (@jessetemple) September 6, 2021
Hmmm, is EMU head coach Chris Creighton angling for a job in Madison? If so...he’s doing an excellent job!
The Badgers do have a lot of stuff to clean up from Week 1 and they’ll want to go into their early season bye week on a positive note, so one would hope that UW will come out of the gates hot and try and jump all over the Eagles. Will that actually happen? It’s hard to say, but it sure would be nice to see some early, quick completions for Graham Mertz to get his confidence going and then maybe let him uncork a deep one...just for fun...just to see how it feels.
Here are the staff predictions for the game:
Tyler: 34-10, Wisconsin
Owen: 38-10, Wisconsin
J.J.: 42-10, Wisconsin
Neal: 24-7, Wisconsin
Belz: 31-7, Wisconsin
Rock: 51-6, Wisconsin
Kevin: 24-7, Wisconsin
Ryan: 45-10, Wisconsin
Bremen: 49-12, Wisconsin
Jake: 38-7, Wisconsin
Drew: 35-13, Wisconsin (that’s a blocked extra point, not two FGs for EMU)
Here are the depth charts for both teams:
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22842011/Screen_Shot_2021_09_11_at_12.33.46_AM.png)
FWIW, Eastern Michigan HC Chris Creighton said they haven't made a decision yet about who will start at QB Saturday.
— Ben Kenney (@benzkenney) September 9, 2021
RS Jr Preston Hutchinson & Cincinnati transfer Ben Bryant (former Wisconsin commit) each saw time last week against St Frances (PA).
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22842012/Screen_Shot_2021_09_11_at_12.33.59_AM.png)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22842013/Screen_Shot_2021_09_11_at_12.37.11_AM.png)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22842014/Screen_Shot_2021_09_11_at_12.37.21_AM.png)
Players unavailable for tonight's game:
— Bucky’s 5th Quarter (@B5Q) September 11, 2021
ILB Leo Chenal
CB Deron Harrell
CB Faion Hicks
S Tyler Mais
S Collin Wilder
OLB Aaron Witt