Wisconsin Badgers
Sep. 29. TBA. Madison, WI.
2007 Record: 9-3/5-3/#24
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2007 Schedule

2006 Schedule (12-1 all, 7-1 Big10)

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Strengths/Weaknesses

OFFENSE: 9 returning starters
DEFENSE: 7 returning starters

Rating Scale
(5 = strong, 1 = weak)

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History vs. Wisky

MSU leads 27-18

1913 W 12 Wisconsin 7 A
1918 L 6 Wisconsin 7 A
1920 L 0 Wisconsin 27 A
1923 L 0 Wisconsin 21 A
1925 L 10 Wisconsin 21 A
1954 L 0 Wisconsin 6 H
1955 W 27 Wisconsin 0 A
1956 W 33 Wisconsin 0 H
1957 W 21 Wisconsin 7 A
1958 L 7 Wisconsin 9 H
1961 W 20 Wisconsin 0 A
1963 W 30 Wisconsin 13 H
1964 W 22 Wisconsin 6 A
1967 W 35 Wisconsin 7 H
1968 W 39 Wisconsin 0 A
1971 L 28 Wisconsin 31 A
1972 W 31 Wisconsin 0 H
1973 W 21 Wisconsin 0 H
1974 W 28 Wisconsin 21 A
1977 W 9 Wisconsin 7 A
1978 W 55 Wisconsin 2 H
1979 L 29 Wisconsin 38 A
1980 L 7 Wisconsin 17 H
1981 W 33 Wisconsin 14 H
1982 L 23 Wisconsin 24 A
1983 L 0 Wisconsin 32 A
1984 L 10 Wisconsin 20 H
1985 W 41 Wisconsin 7 A
1986 W 23 Wisconsin 13 H
1987 W 30 Wisconsin 9 A
1988 W 36 Wisconsin 0 H
1989 W 31 Wisconsin 3 A
1990 W 14 Wisconsin 9 H
1991 W 20 Wisconsin 7 A
1992 W 28 Wisconsin 10 H
1993 L 20 Wisconsin 41 N
1994 W 29 Wisconsin 10 H forfeit
1995 L 14 Wisconsin 45 A
1996 W 30 Wisconsin 13 H
1999 L 10 Wisconsin 40 A
2000 L 10 Wisconsin 17 H
2001 W 42 Wisconsin 28 A
2002 L 24 Wisconsin 42 H
2003 L 21 Wisconsin 56 A
2004 W 45 Wisconsin 14 H

The Skinny on the Stinkin Badgers:

Phil Steele: 16th nationally
Schedule Strength: 39
Sporting News: 8th nationally
Coach: Bert Bielema (12-1, 2nd year)
Series: MSU leads 27-18
Home Field: Camp Randall (80,321)
Website: www.uwbadgers.com/
Wisky Sucks...: OK, Rod barks a la Univ of Mich alums about those who are Badger fans but never set foot on campus. The ES hates Bo Ryan, period.
Best Player: Wisky has lots of really good players. Let's start with All Americas 9 TE Travis Beckum, or #6 DB Jake Ikegwonu. The defensive line has #92 DE Matt Shaughnessey. And, #39 RB PJ Hill is a great talent who has a great line to lead the way.
Best 2006 win: The 17-14 win in the Captial One Bowl against a great Arkansas team was a surprise.
Worst 2006 loss: They only lost one game, and it was a brutal 27-13 loss to the Yellow Bellies in scUMland.
2007 key game: The Oct. 13 game at JoePa looms large. If Wisky can beat JoePa on the road, it sets up nice for a contending finish. JoePa is brutal to beat in his house.
2007 biggest creampuff(s): The Citadel? Wisk sshould be ashamed. This isn't even Iraq.
Biggest weakness: Wisconsin breaks in a new QB after that so-so guy, John Stocco, leapt for the NFL. Senior #12 Tyler Donovan (who?) takes the reins. The Wisky linebacking corps is the weakest it has been since 1990: you can tell 'cause noone is even talking about it.
Biggest strength(s): Everywhere? Seriously, Wisky has lots of depth and talent in the trenches on both sides of the ball. They will be able to push most teams around.
Chance to win: Rating scale. This game the Spartans match up probably the worse of any team on their schedule. Damn. Too bad we can't get these two teams to schlep it over to the Sprecher's Brewery and suck down a few pints of stout before heading into the game, then maybe we'd have a chance.

It will force MSU to take chances to make plays. Dantonio's offense has less flair than JLS', but it will need to write a new page for this game. Maybe a flea flicker or a reverse pass to catch the Badgers out of position. Ringer and Caulcrick will move the chains for a while, but expect Wisky to stand up straight along the line throughout the game. Watch for the Hoyer-Davis connection, as Hoyer should be able to find sure handed TE Kellen Davis for some yards being covered by suspect Wisky 'backers. Similarly, if Hoyer can stretch the field with deep throws to the Spartan wideouts, they might be able to take advantage of a young Wisky safety corps.

Wisky has never lit it up on the offensive end over the years, but rather it has used a great running game and taken advantage of turnovers. Expect the same thing in this game. PJ Hill is the back in the league's most effective running game. He has all the tools behind a stud of an offensive line to move the chains against a Spartan "thank you John L Smith we are still plugging the holes" defensive line. If Wisky runs for 300 yards in this game, the ES is going down to Lousiville, knock on John L's door, bend him over his knee, and spank him 300 times for begging JUCOs to come to MSU for immediate help. Thanks for the future, buddy. An improved Spartan LB corps will have to step up and help plug the running lanes. But, Wisky's weakness (QB - #12, Tyler Donovan) doesn't do MSU any good because Wisky has a stout offensive line that will keep the paws of our DL off of him. Donovon can find a plethora of returning starters to throw the ball to -- #1 Swan, #19 Hubbard, and #9 Beckum. So, MSU needs to find a way to get pressure Donovan into forcing bad plays. Again. and Again. That's a tall order against a GREAT team. Not gonna happen. But, we can dream.

Wisky returns their punter (#94 Ken DeBauche) and their return team will include Marcus Randel El to add some zip to last year's ho-hum unit. Kicker Taylor Melhaff (15-20 att in '06) is pretty damn good, as is MSU's Brett Swenson. And then, after seeing what Bielema did last year against JoePa at the end of the first half, it was beautiful. He kicked 5 or 6 out of bounds kicks in a row after sending his team 15 yards off side; he found a glitch in the rules. You gotta give top-props to Bielema for being on top of his game and his special teams unit. Give Wisky the edge here, as well.

MSU will compete, but it is much too early in the season here and Wisky has too much riding on the line and their weaknesses just don't match MSU. The Doctor has his hands fill to find a way to get this into the W column.

Make it: Wisky 34, MSU 20. On second thought, that's too many points. Make it: Wisky 28, MSU 10.

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2007 Statistics

Score by Quarters

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