Can the Badgers pull off the upset against the top team in the country?
The Wisconsin Badgers are set to take on the Oregon Ducks on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT. The Badgers will face the No. 1 team in the nation at home for the first time since 2010 when they took down No. 1 Ohio State, 31-18.
Camp Randall’s atmosphere will be electric, but the team’s struggles can’t be ignored. Wisconsin most recently lost 42-10 against Iowa, a demoralizing defeat from a game that should have gone to the Badgers.
As for Oregon, they are the No. 1 team in the nation at 10-0. It will be the biggest challenge the Badgers have had since that beautiful victory 14 years ago.
Focus On Dillon Gabriel’s Weapons, Not Gabriel Himself
There’s no way around it, Dillon Gabriel is going to have an efficient game one way or another. He can throw deep, hit players with accuracy, and take off if need be. His completion percentage has yet to fall under 62% in a game this season, and Oregon has faced ranked opponents as high as Ohio State when they were No. 2 in the nation. A Heisman candidate, Gabriel is an unstoppable force.
The task for Wisconsin’s defense isn’t so much putting pressure on the sixth-year quarterback as it is taking away his weapons through the secondary. Tez Johnson, Evan Stewart, and Terrance Ferguson highlight some of Oregon’s pass catchers. Gabriel’s performance doesn’t hang on the defensive line so much as it does Ricardo Hallman, Hunter Wohler, and the rest of the Badgers’ secondary. Gabriel is going to make a play no matter how much time he has.
Establish the Run
Wisconsin isn’t ready to implement the air raid. We’ve been waiting on it all season but Braedyn Locke and OC Phil Longo just aren’t right for that job. There’s a chance they prove us wrong, but it’s not promising.
With that, the Badgers should look to get Tawee Walker back in a groove with the run game. Since being named the starter, he’s been great against Big Ten opponents. Against the top defense in the country, Walker and the O-line will have a challenge, but if there’s one thing we know about Wisconsin, it’s that the school carries some talented offensive linemen and even more talented running backs. Prolonging possessions and sticking to their strengths will be key for the Badgers, and running the ball is how you do it.
Win the Coaching Battle
In reality, Wisconsin’s biggest matchup will be from the sidelines. Luke Fickell will have to outcoach Dan Lanning if he wants any shot at winning this one. This means being conservative at the right time, but taking risks when the momentum is in your favor.
Lanning is one of the best minds in the collegiate game right now, but Fickell has the chance to will a far inferior team to one of the greatest upsets in school history. He’ll have a lot of pressure to at least make it a competitive game.