The Wisconsin Badgers will head west to Lincoln to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers for a battle of Big Ten reds from Lincoln Memorial Stadium on ESPN. Nebraska and Wisconsin have faced off in every season since 2012, when the Huskers came over from the Big 12. After meeting twice in the 2012 season, the Badgers and Cornhuskers agreed to play for the Freedom Trophy, creating a new rivalry in real-time. Wisconsin leads the all-time series 11-4, and they've won seven matchups in a row.
Wisconsin is 5-5 after losing to Iowa on the road in Week 11. The Badgers lost the turnover battle to the Hawkeyes, and that’s all it takes sometimes in the Big Ten conference. Wisconsin is scoring 28.7 points per game, while passing for 200.3 yards per game (203rd), and rushing for 170.6 ypg (102nd). The Badger defense allows 20.9 points per game.
Graham Mertz will make his eleventh start of the season this weekend. Aside from an outlier 5-TD performance versus Northwestern, it’s been another pedestrian season for the junior quarterback. Mertz has thrown for 1,883 passing yards with 18 touchdowns to eight interceptions on the season.
Braelon Allen was bottled by Iowa last time out, but he’s done his part for the Wisconsin offense this season. Prior to last weekend, Allen surpassed the 115-yard mark in five of six Big Ten games, including a season-high 165 yards at the Horseshoe versus Ohio State. Allen has rushed for 1,034 yards and ten touchdowns this season. Chimere Dike leads the passing-challenged Badgers in receiving with 39 catches, 601 receiving yards, and six touchdowns.
Nebraska is 3-7 after losing to Michigan in Ann Arbor in Week 10. The Cornhuskers had a tall task at the Big House last weekend, and they were overpowered early, and missed covering the 30-point underdog spot by a point. Nebraska is scoring 23.3 points per game, while passing for 226.6 yards per game (141st), and rushing for 136.6 ypg (175th). The Blackshirt defense allows 29.9 points per game.
The quarterback situation in Lincoln is disgusting right now, and the Huskers don’t even have an experienced veteran to represent with Casey Thompson out. Chuba Purdy and Logan Smothers were a mess against Big Blue last weekend.
Anthony Grant and Trey Palmer have been the lone building blocks from this season, and if they’re wise, they transfer this summer. Grant got off to such a good start in the backfield, but incompetent QB play has led to his production being cut. Grant has surpassed the 115-yard mark five times this season, and he’s up to 880 rushing yards and six touchdowns for the year. Trey Palmer transferred in from LSU into a mess, but he’s done his and produced outside, catching 58 passes for 831 receiving yards and five scores.
The Nebraska veterans have been through so much in their 4-5 years on campus. They’ve endured so much turmoil and change, from the pandemic, to being in the midwest during a pandemic, the small group that remains has seen a lot.
I almost wanted to sway their way for senior day, but this quarterback situation is atrocious. There’s no plan in place behind Thompson, and although those guys deserve it, I just can’t advise it. Wisconsin can become bowl eligible with a win here in Lincoln, and I think they tighten the bolts and make it happen.
Take Wisconsin’s spread for this battle of Big Ten reds.
AUTHOR: Corey Ghee
