The Wisconsin Badgers take on the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington this Saturday at 11:00 a.m. on Big Ten Network. The Hoosiers are 29.5-point favorites.
Wisconsin is coming off its biggest win under
Luke Fickell, upsetting then-No. 23 Washington 13-10 last weekend at Camp Randall Stadium, prompting fans to rush the field.
It was a stellar defensive effort led by freshmen linebackers Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano. Posa, with 2.5 sacks and 11 total tackles, and Catalano, who registered a team-high 19 total tackles on Saturday, were named Freshmen of the Week by the Big Ten.
What should Badgers fans know about the Indiana Hoosiers?
Opponent Preview
Curt Cignetti and Indiana are a national championship contender with an undefeated 10-0 record. The Hoosiers boast the best scoring offense in the nation, averaging 44.5 points per game, and the second-best scoring defense at 12.1 points per game, behind only Ohio State. In their last game, Indiana escaped Happy Valley with a 27-24 win, their first win in program history at Beaver Stadium.
Leading the charge for the Hoosiers is Cal transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza is one of the favorites to win the Heisman trophy, and it’s easy to see why. The veteran quarterback has thrown for 2,342 yards and 26 touchdowns, the most in the Big Ten.
Against Penn State, Mendoza led a clutch 10-play, 80-yard drive to take a late lead over Penn State, culminating in a touchdown pass that made Gus Johnson lose his voice.
Indiana ranks ninth in the country in rushing offense with 231.9 rushing yards per game. Leading that charge is the two-headed rushing attack of Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black. Hemby, a transfer from Maryland, has 656 rushing yards. Black, in his second year with the program, has 651 rushing yards.
Omar Cooper Jr., whose spectacular touchdown catch against Penn State might be the greatest in Hoosiers’ history to this point, leads Indiana with 701 receiving yards. Elijah Sarratt has a team-high 10 touchdown catches, but he is day-to-day with an injury. If Sarratt cannot go, the Hoosier will turn to Charlie Becker. Becker was outstanding against Penn State, hauling in seven catches for 118 receiving yards.
On defense, safety Louis Moore leads the Hoosiers with 62 total tackles and is tied atop the Big Ten with five interceptions. At linebacker, Rolijah Hardy has 61 total tackles behind Moore and leads IU with six sacks on the year.
Score Prediction
This Badgers team, despite its 3-6 record, has shown that it has not quit on Luke Fickell, this coaching staff, or the season. We saw a team at Camp Randall Stadium last Saturday play with some of the passion and energy that had built up over the previous few weeks. Wisconsin will need every bit of that defensive effort for a chance at the greatest upset in school history.
Unfortunately, I don’t see this offense holding up against Indiana for four quarters. Wisconsin can get away with Sean West being their leader in passing yards one time, but twice? No chance.
Prediction: 42-13 Indiana
