College Football: Wisconsin Must Run with the Spartans

The Wisconsin Badgers are in for their biggest test of the season when they travel to East Lansing on Saturday. Al Dannity breaks down this battle between an irresistible force and an immovable object.

Spartans won’t fear the run
The Wisconsin Badgers have run over everybody this season but Michigan State are playing on another level. The Spartans have the best defense outside of the SEC and they proved it last Saturday. For the second season straight, Michigan State devoured Denard Robinson. The most electrifying force in College Football was rendered a non-factor by the Spartans. Now they face an entirely different challenge.

There is little electrifying about the Badgers’ biggest weapon but it is brutally effective nonetheless. The power running game developed in Madison delivers the kind of downhill force needed to win in the Big Ten. The Spartans however overcame this threat last season. They know what to expect and have arguably a stronger defensive front than 2010.

The Wilson factor
These of course, are not the 2010 Badgers. Scott Tolzien was a solid game manager with a decent deep ball. He was not however a game changing threat. Russell Wilson on the other hand is that and more.

Wilson has brought the best out of receiver Nick Toon in 2011. That partnership coupled with Wilson’s own scrambling ability gives a whole new dimension to the Wisconsin offense. Wilson’s presence forces Michigan State to respect the Badgers’ passing game more. That in turn creates more room for that dominant ground game to take control. College Football betting fans know Wilson has the capability to turn this game merely by threatening to change the offense’s tempo.

The verdict
This game has the ability to make or break the Badgers’ season. It could do likewise for Wilson’s Heisman hopes. The Michigan State defense has impressed me all season long and I expect them to give Nebraska fits in a week and a half. This however is just too much of a challenge for the Spartans’ defense to overcome. The Wolverines had a dual-threat quarterback; the Badgers have a dual-threat offense. This is one great unit that can impose its will on nearly any opponent in the country. There may be no better game for Russell Wilson to have his Heisman moment and I like the NC State transfer to be the difference here. Look for Wisconsin to pick up a statement win on the road.

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