Published Dec 5, 2020
Weekly Roundup and Game Predictions: No. 10 Indiana vs. No. 18 Wisconsin
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Jake Kocorowski  •  BadgerBlitz
Senior Writer
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The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers get back on the field to resume their truncated 2020 season when they welcome the No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers to Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday.

Check out below for a reminder of how to catch all the action for UW's fourth game of the year, along with all of BadgerBlitz.com's content throughout the week leading up to the Big Ten cross-divisional clash.

HOW TO WATCH

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Who: No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers vs No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers

When: Saturday, Dec. 5, 2:30 p.m. CT

Where: Camp Randall Stadium; Madison, Wis.

TV: ABC; Joe Tessitore on play-by-play, Greg McElroy as the analyst, and Holly Rowe serving as the sideline reporter.

Where to stream the game: ESPN app or ESPN.com/watch

Radio: Badger Sports Network with Matt Lepay on play-by-play, Mike Lucas and Mark Tauscher as analysts, with Patrick Herb as the sideline reporter

Stream Radio: iHeartRadio.com (WIBA), Sirius 83, XM 83

Current line: Between -13 and -13.5 Wisconsin (The Action Network)

All-Time Series: Wisconsin leads 41-18-2

When the Programs Play in Madison: 23-8-1

CATCH UP ON BADGERBLITZ.COM'S COVERAGE FROM INDIANA WEEK

SENIOR WRITER BENJAMIN WORGULL

How will Graham Mertz respond coming off his first really poor performance of his career? Will Wisconsin get more from its receivers to supplement Jalen Berger's running hot streak? Can the Badgers defensive pick up their pass rush and make new starting quarterback Jack Tuttle uncomfortable? Can Wisconsin deliver the plays it needs to make to register a victory over a top-10 team while avoiding the costly mistakes? My belief to these questions is yes.

Wisconsin 24, Indiana 17

STAFF WRITER RAUL VAZQUEZ

Wisconsin will once again be coming off a pause, but this time in a much more somber mood than the first time out after a dominant win over Illinois to open the season. Now, UW, barring some miracle, is out of contention for the Big Ten West title and is coming off a loss to Northwestern where they managed to put up just seven points.

The Badgers welcome the Hoosiers to Madison for what will once again be a tough matchup for Graham Mertz and the offense. Coming off a sluggish performance against Northwestern, it doesn’t get any easier against a defense that leads the country with 16 interceptions. On the flip side, Jim Leonhard’s defense should be able to create problems for Jack Tuttle, who is making his first start for Indiana.

Much like the game against the Wildcats, I think this contest comes down to whether or not Mertz can limit some of his mistakes. The defense has proven they are once again an elite unit and can create problems for Tuttle.

Wisconsin 24, Indiana 16

SENIOR WRITER JAKE KOCOROWSKI

With all the game cancellations and this season’s peaks and valleys, I’m excited to watch this game. Indiana will be the toughest challenge for Wisconsin in the slated regular season, and that is saying something with what transpired down in Evanston two weeks ago. It is also something I would not have said during the start of this year. Then again, it is 2020.

The Wildcats’ smothering and physical defense stymied the Badgers, though Peyton Ramsey and the NU offense was mostly grounded by Leonhard’s unit. This week, the Hoosiers present intriguing matchups on both sides of the ball, and it will strength-on-strength when UW’s secondary -- now without junior cornerback Rachad Wildgoose -- takes on IU’s passing attack that even without Michael Penix Jr., poses a test with multiple threats.

On the flip side, a Wisconsin offense that was contained to a lone touchdown and coughed up the ball five times to Northwestern will look across the line of scrimmage and see an Indiana unit that thrives on putting pressure in the backfield and creating takeaways. If UW sees Danny Davis and/or Kendric Pryor return -- which at the very least, it seems like the latter is on the way back to game time action this weekend -- it could be a big boost in creating a more dynamic, diversified attack.

As I told our Rivals cousins earlier this week, I believe the Badgers should be able to contain the Hoosiers' ground game -- Wildcat used or not -- which may put pressure on Tuttle. I believe the Badgers will give up some plays to the potent IU aerial attack, but the defensive backfield wants to demonstrate each week that they can contain some of the Big Ten’s best wide receiver rooms.

This very likely turns into a cross-divisional clash where turnovers heavily influence the outcome. If Mertz and the offense cough up the ball more than twice once again, it could once again be a tough afternoon for the Badgers. However, if it can establish the run and get some play action opening up deeper chunk plays -- going against a defense giving up 230 passing yards per outing -- that would be a promising sign after a humbling experience inside Ryan Field.

That said, I think Wisconsin makes a couple more plays on both sides of the ball to pull out a W in Camp Randall, but I believe they don't cover the two-touchdown spread.

I said Wisconsin 30, Indiana 24 earlier this week. I think the points will be lower by a field goal each.

Let’s say Wisconsin 27, Indiana 21.