There are bound to be some Wisconsin fans who wonder how I could put them lower than Nebraska in my Big Ten football power rankings and still claim to be trying to be as impartial as I can. Here’s my answer. Wisconsin’s offense is incredibly uninspiring.
Yes, the Badgers were taking on one of the best teams in the country last week when they lost just 14-7 to Michigan. Yes Michigan’s defense has been pretty darn good this year, but it hasn’t been impregnable.
Wisconsin actually reminds me quite a bit of Iowa last year in that they just aren’t going to score many points. Their defense, on the other hand has been quite impressive. Keep in mind, the team has played three games against teams that were ranked in the Top 10 at the time the two teams met. Wisconsin has allowed a total of 34 points to those teams (11.3 points per game)
At the same time, this is a team that had to hold on with both hands in order to beat Georgia State, in Wisconsin 23-17. The Badgers have a week to work on their offense because they play the Ohio State Buckeyes on October 15. If they look good, or win that game, they’ll likely leapfrog Nebraska again.