Wisconsin vs. Northwestern: Four things to watch as the Badgers try to end two-game losing streak
WISCONSIN (5-4, 3-3 BIG TEN) VS. NORTHWESTERN (4-5, 2-4)
When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Camp Randall Stadium.
TV: FS1 with Chris Myers (play-by-play) and Robert Smith (analysis).
Radio: FM-97.3 and AM-920 in Milwaukee and a state network with Matt Lepay (play-by-play), Mark Tauscher (analysis) and Patrick Herb (sideline).
Line: Wisconsin by 10½.
Series: Wisconsin leads the series, 62-37-5, including 29-15-2 in Madison.
Coaches: Luke Fickell (6-4, first full season; 69-29, seventh season overall) vs. Northwestern’s David Baun (4-5, interim head coach).
FOUR THINGS TO WATCH
Have the Badgers moved on from the loss at Indiana and can they start quickly Saturday?
UW didn’t play well on either side of the ball in the opening quarter in the loss to Indiana. Coach Luke Fickell and the players appeared stunned after the 20-14 loss. How were they preparing for Northwestern? “Sunday might have been our best Sunday (of the season),” Fickell said. “I don’t know why. But I thought those guys came out there – a lot of guys limping and on an injury report – but yet they go out there and do what you ask them to do, run around and sweat a little bit, compete a little bit. Have a little bit of fun in the midst of all the things are going on. And they did. I trust that this is the attitude that these guys have. Unfortunately, they’ve been through some adversity, obviously last year. They’ve handled it pretty well and they came out on Sunday and handled it really well. I’m excited about that and getting another opportunity to get this thing on the right track.”
Can quarterback Braedyn Locke and others help spark the sputtering offense?
Remember how Braedyn Locke led an impressive rally at Illinois? UW scored 18 points in the final quarter to stun the Illini, 25-21. In the two games since that victory, UW’s offense has had 24 possessions and the results haven’t been pretty. UW has four scores, including three touchdowns; 12 punts; lost the ball on downs four times; turned the ball over twice; missed a field-goal attempt; and saw the half end on an incompletion in the end zone. Northwestern is 10th in the Big Ten in points allowed in all games (25.5) and ninth in league games (24.2). Can the Badgers move the ball consistently against the Wildcats?
The Badgers lost the turnover battle at Indiana. They must flip the script against Northwestern.
UW suffered two turnovers in the loss to Indiana – fumbles by tailback Cade Yacamelli and wide receiver Will Pauling – and didn’t force a turnover. The Badgers have a minus-one turnover margin, thanks largely to losing 10 of 14 fumbles. The Wildcats have a plus-four turnover margin, thanks to how well they have protected the ball. They have lost one of eight fumbles and their quarterbacks have thrown just five interceptions in 267 attempts, an average of one interception every 53.4 attempts.
UW’s offensive line must account for and contain linebackers Bryce Gallagher and Xavier Mueller
Linebackers Bryce Gallagher and Xander Mueller form the foundation of Northwestern’s defense. Gallagher leads the team in total tackles (78) and is fourth in the Big Ten and 34th nationally in tackles per game (8.7). He also has one interception, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Mueller, who had 19 tackles in the Wildcats’ 10-7 loss to Iowa, is second on the team in tackles (74). He leads the team in tackles for loss (9½) and is second in sacks (4½). He is one of only six players nationally to have at least 4½ sacks and 70 tackles.
HISTORY LESSON
When the teams met on Oct. 8 last season, Jim Leonhard was in his first game as interim head coach for UW.
The Badgers responded by dominating both sides of the ball en route to a 42-7 victory.
Graham Mertz completed 20 of 29 passes for 299 yards and five touchdowns.
Chimere Dike caught 10 passes for 185 yards and three touchdowns, covering 52, 21 and 6 yards.
Braelon Allen rushed 23 times for 135 yards and passed for one touchdown, a 23-yarder to Chez Mellusi.
UW forced three turnovers, including two interceptions, and held the Wildcats to one score on 11 full possessions. The touchdown came on Northwestern’s 10th possession.
DID YOU KNOW?
Locke has attempted at least 35 passes in each of his three starts and has not thrown an interception. He is the only quarterback in the Big Ten this season to have three games of at least 35 attempts with zero interceptions. He has attempted 121 passes in the three games. That streak is the longest without an interception by a UW quarterback since Russell Wilson had a streak of 158 consecutive passes in 2011.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin vs. Northwestern football: Four things to watch Saturday
