For Nebraska, It's Another 'Desperation Bowl' Game
Here we go again. For the second week in a row, a five-win Nebraska team will be playing another five-win team, Wisconsin. Both will be trying to get one more win to become bowl eligible.
And once again, Nebraska will be facing a team that's been on a long losing skid. (Last week it was Maryland that was on a four-game losing streak.) This week's Husker opponent, Wisconsin, has dropped three in a row: Ohio State (10-24), Indiana (14-20) and last Saturday, Northwestern (10-24).
The Badgers will be pulling out all the stops Saturday night to try to beat Nebraska in Madison, Wisconsin. They know NU is prone to beating themselves and they are probably licking their chops.
But if Whiskey should somehow lose to Nebraska, they will have another opportunity to win their sixth game with a road contest with another 5-5 team (Minnesota) the following week.
What are the Badgers' chances in that game? Not great. The past two years, Wisconsin lost to Minnesota (16-23 in '22 and 13-23 in '21). So it's not going to be easy to beat the Gophers.
What Saturday's meeting between Nebraska and Wisconsin amounts to is another desperation game for both teams. It would seem Wisconsin has the easier remaining schedule against two 5-5 opponents
Nebraska, on the other hand, is trying to win at Wisconsin (something it hasn't done since joining the Big Ten in 2011). Then it's 8-2 Iowa at home on Black Friday.
The Badgers, fresh off an embarrassing loss at home to Northwestern, might be a less challenging foe for Nebraska than trying to beat the Hawkeyes.
Getting back to the Badgers' recent skid. It can be linked to the loss of their starting QB, Tanner Mordecai, earlier in the season. The senior from Waco, Texas, returned to action for Saturday's Northwestern game. His comeback numbers were impressive: 31 of 45 attempts for 255 yards. Not bad. But the Badgers still suffered a 14-point loss. To Northwestern.
In the aftermath of that loss, Wisconsin fans were upset at what many thought was play calling that was too conservative.
Their fans may have a point.
I would have preferred Wisconsin coming off a win coming into Saturday's contest. Facing another team desperate for bowl eligibility is something that didn't work too well for Nebraska last week.
So how do these two teams stack up? For starters, neither Wisconsin nor Nebraska is an offensive juggernaut. In fact, both are ranked in the 100s in scoring offense (WU #104 and NU #121).
We can look at a lot of rankings, but they all might be pointless (no pun intended).
So what's the key to the game? Calling Capt. Obvious: turnovers. If NU can reduce its TO margin, it has an excellent chance to win the game. If NU continues its self-destructive ways, it will be a 5-7 record and another "I'll Be Home For Christmas" theme song.
Why is it?
Why is it you never see Adam Sandler and Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell together?
Just wonderin'...
Oh boy Choboy!
If you missed it, Husker freshman volleyball defensive ace Laney Choboy made an incredible dig in Sunday's home match with Illinois on Sunday. See the highlight at this link.
By the way, the 25-0 Huskers won the point as well as the match.
How 'Bout Them Huskers
Due to scheduling conflicts, grandson Will and I are unable to record a podcast this week. But we shall return next week!
