Wisconsin could use some good news – the team still isn’t bowl eligible, recruits are decommitting and Jim Leonhard remains in limbo. Perhaps this weekend will help.
The Badgers do have to go on the road but they get to play Nebraska, a team they’ve owned since the Cornhuskers have joined the Big Ten.
Maybe this will be a get-right game for Wisconsin – and get it that coveted sixth win to put the Badgers in a bowl.
Or will it just be one more step downward into the abyss which has been the 2022 season?
Here’s this week’s picks from around the web:
Pete Fiutak of Collegefootballnews.com: Wisconsin 26, Nebraska 13. “Nebraska has only kept three teams from hitting 60% of their passes and they’re 0-6 when allowing teams to run for more than 175 yards. Wisconsin will do both. The Badgers have been lousy on the road, but they’ll get past last week’s frustrating loss to Iowa with a balanced day from the offense and a great performance from the D. Nebraska will have a few big offensive plays, but there won’t be enough of them in the second half.”
Brandon Cavanaugh of Athlon Sports: Wisconsin 27, Nebraska 17. “Wisconsin needs to do what all other good running teams have done against the Big Red: feed the beast and wait for the dam to break. However, if the Huskers can put together sustained drives, the pressure shifts to Mertz. A sub-optimal position for a Badger team that’s surrendered 24 sacks in 2022. If Thompson is back at quarterback [editor’s note: he is], excitement skyrockets in a hurry. … It could go either way, but the team that has posted a considerably better year-long turnover margin wins out.”
Sam McKewon of the Omaha World-Leader: Wisconsin 21, Nebraska 14. “If Nebraska quarterback Casey Thompson is halfway capable, the Huskers can hang in this game. It’s a stretch to think NU breaks the long losing streak to the Badgers, though. Even if this Wisconsin team is quite gettable.”
Lincoln Journal Star writers: Luke Mullin – Wisconsin 27, Nebraska 17; Nate Head – Nebraska 27, Wisconsin 21; Arnie Just – Wisconsin 24, Nebraska 14; Colton Stone – Nebraska 24, Wisconsin 21.
Daily Nebraskan writers: Gavin Struve – Wisconsin 34, Nebraska 28; Joseph Maier – Wisconsin 24, Nebraska 21; Thomas Codo – Nebraska 30, Wisconsin 27.
Jonathan Michel of Cornhuskers Wire: Wisconsin 24, Nebraska 16.
Randy Johnson of the Minneapolis Star Tribune: Wisconsin 27, Nebraska 17.
Morgan Moriarty of Bleacher Report: Wisconsin 24, Nebraska 6.
Trent Knoop of Wolverines Wire: Wisconsin 27, Nebraska 13. “The Badgers lost a tough game last week in Iowa City to the Hawkeyes but Wisconsin should be able to move the ball and run it against a bad Nebraska defense. I see the Badgers winning handily in Lincoln regardless of who starts at quarterback for Nebraska.”
Riley Donald of Hawkeyes Wire: Wisconsin 23, Nebraska 13.
Bob Dunning of Davis Enterprise: Wisconsin.
Cameron Ross of Picks and Parlays: Wisconsin 34, Nebraska 7.
Bill Connelly of ESPN: His S&P+ projection has it Wisconsin 30. Nebraska 21.
All three Athlon Sports analysts are picking Wisconsin to win.
All four analysts at FootballScoop.com predict a Wisconsin victory.
