Wisconsin Badgers vs Austin Peay Governors Football Preview

The Wisconsin Badgers should get a breather this week when Austin Peay, which has never faced a BCS conference team, visits Camp Randall Stadium.

The interesting thing is that the Badgers will really need this break.

Wisconsin is coming off a game that was far more challenging – and more particularly, physical – than most pigskin pundits expected. Arizona State came into Madison and punched the Badgers in the mouth in the first half. ASU would have accumulated a halftime lead had it not been for the persistence of UW coverage man Shelton Johnson. The safety, on what turned out to be the final play of the first half, ran the length of the field and chased down ASU returner Kyle Middlebrooks at the UW 1-yard line. The remarkable display of hustle preserved a 13-10 halftime lead for a Badger outfit that got outrushed in the first half by a Pac-10 opponent that didn’t figure to pose too much of a threat on the ground. Wisconsin got moved off the line of scrimmage and was far from its best in the trenches.

Coach Bret Bielema’s team did well to regroup in the second half – the Badgers slowly gained more control up front – but ASU was able to drive the ball downfield at crunch time, scoring a touchdown with 4:09 left. It was only because of a blocked extra point by Jay Valai that the Badgers were able to escape with a tenuous 20-19 win. Wisconsin’s failure to dominate with its corn-fed linemen has to be a significant source of concern going forward. The presence of a cupcake on the schedule – while many will rightly frown upon it – will nevertheless give Wisconsin a chance to mentally and physically regroup. The Badgers can use a vanilla game plan before the Big Ten season kicks into high gear, and they can rededicate themselves to the power run game against the Governors of the FCS.

Austin Peay has allowed an average of 219 rushing yards per game.  Wisconsin running backs John Clay, Montee Ball, and James White could have a huge day carrying the ball.  The Governors gave up 353 rushing yards and seven touchdowns against Middle Tennessee in week two.

Wisconsin has been hit hard by injuries this season, and star linebacker Chris Borland became the latest victim last Saturday when he hurt the same shoulder that had been surgically repaired during the offseason.  Wide receiver Nick Toon, kick returner David Gilreath, and offensive tackle Josh Oglesby also missed last week’s game.

Yes, Wisconsin definitely needs this week to regroup. It’s a good thing Penn State or Iowa isn’t on the slate in week four.