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The No. 6 Michigan Wolverines can always expect a crowd of 107,501 plus fans when they are home. This Saturday they may be even more raucous than usual, as they welcome home Big Blue after pulling a huge upset a week ago in South Bend against Notre Dame. Now they just have to hope they don’t have a letdown against the Wisconsin Badgers.
Wisconsin heads to Ann Arbor with a perfect 3-0 record under new head coach Bret Bielema, and looks to become the first coach since 1919 to start their Badgers career with four straight wins.
In the Big Ten opener for each team, Michigan will look to avenge last season’s 23-20 loss in Madison, when Badgers’ QB John Stocco scored on a four-yard draw play with 24 seconds left in the game. It was only the 11th time that the Wolverines had lost to Wisconsin, as they lead the all-time series 47-11-1, and was the first time Wisconsin had won in the series since 1994, with Michigan taking the last 15 of 18.
One thing is for certain when it comes to the series-it will be a close game. In the last five meetings between the schools, each game has been decided by a touchdown or less. One weapon that Wisconsin will be without who helped them win last season is Brian Calhoun, who ran for 155 yards in last year’s contest.
Out goes Calhoun and in steps P.J. Hill. The New York native has been a reliable replacement for Calhoun, who is currently with the Detroit Lions. All Hill has done is lead all freshmen in the nation in rushing with 138.8 yards per game, and ranks 7th overall in the country in rushing, after gaining 184 yards on the ground last week against San Diego State.
Hill hasn’t been the only highlight when it comes to the Badgers-who are also receiving votes in each poll. Wisconsin’s defense has been superb in the first three weeks of the season. The unit hasn’t allowed a touchdown since the first week of the year against Bowling Green, covering a span of 141:58. The Badgers have only allowed eight points per game, which leads the Big Ten, and also lead the conference in pass defense, giving up only 116 yards per game through the air.
The defense will have its hands full with a Michigan team that put up 47 points against a pretty good Notre Dame defense last Saturday. The Wolverines have scored in each of the 12 quarters they have played. Just like Wisconsin, Michigan’s biggest threat this season has been on the ground with running back Mike Hart. He has rushed for 386 yards this year and four touchdowns. Michigan quarterback Chad Henne has spread the ball around quite well, and his been very consistent thus far. Henne has completed passes to nine different receivers and thrown for 468 yards and five touchdowns, with only one interception.
Something has to give on Saturday. Either Wisconsin’s defense is going to finally give up some points, or Michigan’s offense, which came into its own last week for the first time this year, will continue to put up big points on the board.
Saturday will bring a classic matchup between two good teams in the Big Ten, in a series that has been dominated by Michigan. Big Blue fans just hope their Wolverines aren’t happy with just beating the Irish a week ago.
Douglas Kroll can be reached at dckroll@hotmail.com
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