Wisconsin Badgers vs San Jose Stat Spartans Football Preview

The San Jose State Spartans are sure getting a taste of the big time.

One week, the lower-tier WAC program went to Alabama to take on the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide. That paycheck game bolstered SJSU’s coffers, but it couldn’t have improved the Spartans’ self-esteem.

Now, San Jose’s sons must strap on the pads and jump into yet another sea of red, this one being in Madison, Wisconsin, against the Big Ten powerhouse known as the Wisconsin Badgers.

The things football programs do for money.

San Jose State may be a little banged up after its journey to the South. When SJSU traveled to Tuscaloosa last weekend, Coach Mike MacIntyre – in his first season at the helm following the retirement of the deeply-respected Dick Tomey – received a college football baptism by fire. His squad had to sit there and take a 48-3 thrashing from Alabama and its bruising, brawny style.  The Spartans, who won just two games last season, were outgained 591-175 and converted just one of 13 third-down opportunities.  They hardly put up a fight, as the Tide led 31-3 at halftime.

The Spartans’ defense couldn’t stop the Tide in the air or on the ground.  Alabama completed 22 of 30 passes for 334 yards, and rushed 41 times for 257 yards despite the absence of Heisman Trophy-winning running back Mark Ingram. 

And now, fresh off that experience, the Spartans of the West Coast must now encounter another powerful team with a lot of muscle up front.

Wisconsin rolled past UNLV last week, 41-21, behind a rushing attack led by John Clay and Montee Ball.  Clay – a punishing runner who is already licking his chops looking at SJSU game film – ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Ball ran for 79 yards and two touchdowns, and freshman James White added 59 yards for the Badgers as well. Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien was 15 of 20 for 197 yards passing, with one interception.

Wisconsin seems likely to run over the Spartans all day long. The UNLV game was still close at halftime because of two key Badger turnovers, so Wisconsin still has issues to address. Those problems should get solved against the thin and under-resourced Spartans, whose program will be richer in the bank account but decimated on the field. Such are the economics of modern-day college football. It’s not a pretty sight.