Pre-Snap Read: Can the Badgers continue their winning streak over Purdue?
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MADISON, Wis. - The No. 7 Wisconsin Badgers are back home this weekend, where they'll take on the Purdue Boilermakers at 2:30 p.m. CST on the Big Ten Network. The Badgers will be looking to extend an 11-game winning streak over the Boilermakers, and our three keys for the game are included below.
FIRST READ: CAN THE BADGERS START THE GAME OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT?
Wisconsin's offense has been a slow-starting group so far this season, but they might be under pressure to step up in the first half if Purdue's new-look offense gives the UW defense some trouble in the early going. They'll need to perform well on 3rd down and keep the chains moving to put some early points on the board, or else they might have to rely on another second-half surge. Keep an eye on Wisconsin's passing game - they'll be without Jazz Peavy this weekend, so UW's younger core of Quintez Cephus, A.J. Taylor, and Danny Davis will have to step up against Purdue's defensive backs.
SECOND READ: CAN JONATHAN TAYLOR KEEP ROLLING?
Wisconsin's freshman running back is off to a fast start this season, and he's 233 yards short of rushing for 1,000 yards on the season. If he gets there this week against Purdue he'll be the fastest UW running back to reach that bench mark - P.J. Hill did it in seven games, and this would be Taylor's sixth game. I'm running out of superlatives for Taylor, who has exceeded all pre-season expectations for himself so far. We just have to sit back and watch to find out what his ceiling is this year.
THIRD READ: WILL PURDUE'S NEW-LOOK OFFENSE GIVE THE BADGERS TROUBLE?
Jim Leonhard said this week that Purdue's offensive scheme will try and use misdirection to get his players to look for the ball where it isn't - and I don't think the Boilermakers are going to sit on their gadget plays and wait for an opportune moment to use them. The expected rain might cause an issue for Purdue's passing game, but if the weather clears up the Boilermakers will try to air out the ball with two quarterbacks, and catch the Badgers off-guard as much as possible. If they can keep the lid on Purdue's offense this game should look like the last few Purdue-Wisconsin games, but if the Boilermakers catch the Badgers napping then Saturday's game could get interesting fast.
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John Veldhuis: WISCONSIN 35 PURDUE 17
(5-0 this season)
I think Purdue is back on the right track, but I think the Badgers still have a definite talent advantage on both sides of the ball. I won't be surprised if it's close early since the Badgers have started slow this season, but if they hit the ground running it could get ugly.
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John Veldhuis covers Wisconsin Badgers for BadgerBlitz.com on the Rivals.com network. Follow him on Twitter at @JohnVeldhuis.