Pre-Snap Read: Nebraska
The No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers are back on the road to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in what could be a critical Big Ten West matchup. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. CST, and the game will air on the Big Ten Network.
BadgerBlitz.com will be in Lincoln for the game, and you can make sure you're ready for kickoff with our Pre-Snap Read below.
First Read: Will Troy Fumagalli be able to play against Nebraska?
Wisconsin senior tight end Troy Fumagalli did not play last week against Northwestern with what the team described as a minor leg injury, and they listed him as 'questionable' for this week's game against Nebraska. The Badgers could make do without him if they had to, but Fumagalli gives the Badgers an extra layer of versatility in their passing offense and they definitely missed having him against the Wildcats. Head coach Paul Chryst said that Fumagalli was able to get work in all week and took steps forward as the week wore on, but it's hard to say that he will definitely be ready to go this week after last week's surprise injury. We'll find out more as the game nears, but Wisconsin's passing attack is much more potent when he is on the field.
Second Read: Can the Badgers win the turnover battle against the Cornhuskers?
Wisconsin's defense has been able to make plays of their own so far this season, and Nebraska quarterback Tanner Lee has shown a propensity to throw interceptions during his career - both at Tulane and now with the Cornhuskers. But the Badgers can't afford to have another four-turnover game like they did against Northwestern last week. This is going to be a tough road game in a raucous stadium, and the Badgers can't afford to shoot themselves in the foot if they want to leave Lincoln with a win. They can make some mistakes - but I have a hard time seeing them winning if they turn the ball over more than Nebraska does.
Third Read: Can Wisconsin's offense move the chains consistently - and hit on some big plays?
On paper, it looks like the Badgers should be able to move the ball against Nebraska's defense and stay ahead of the chains, and if they don't they're going to have problems. But keep an eye on if Wisconsin's offense is able to break off some chunk plays against Nebraska's defense - both to flip the field position in their favor and put them in position to put points on the board. The stadium atmosphere should be electric, and the noise level might make it hard for the Badgers to communicate. It would help them if they can put some early points on the board to take the crowd out of the game, or else you'll only see the intensity level rise as the game moves along.
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BADGERBLITZ.COM STAFF PREDICTIONS
John Veldhuis: Wisconsin 31 Nebraska 24
(4-0 this season)
I think the Badgers have the talent to win by more than a touchdown, but there's going to be so much hype and excitement for this game in Lincoln I had to hedge my bet a bit.
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John Veldhuis covers Wisconsin Badgers for BadgerBlitz.com on the Rivals.com network. Follow him on Twitter at @JohnVeldhuis.