Western Illinois @ Wisconsin preview
Camp Randall Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2006 ) Western Illinois 10, Wisconsin 34
Before Wisconsin gets to "who's next?" it has had to deal with "who's in?" and "who's out?" Quarterback Joel Stave (throwing-shoulder issues) will miss a second straight game, and the playing time of standout tailback Melvin Gordon (hip flexor) could be limited Saturday when the No. 19 Badgers host FCS member Western Illinois in their home opener. Senior Tanner McEvoy, who primarily played safety last season, started at quarterback in the season opener but struggled through an 8-of-24, 50-yard performance as the Badgers lost a 17-point third-quarter lead and a 28-24 decision to No. 12 LSU in Houston.
Meanwhile, the Leathernecks have had a few extra days to prepare after opening their season with a 45-6 rout of visiting Valparaiso on Aug. 28. Wisconsin is 11-0 all-time against FCS foes, including 2-0 against Western Illinois, but it's a classic spot for a letdown following the tough loss in Texas. "We've got a great challenge," Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen said at his Monday press conference. "(They're) a very respectable team. ... It's a spread team. It's a major departure from what we practice against and what we prepared against for LSU."
TV: Noon ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: None
ABOUT WESTERN ILLINOIS (1-0): The Leathernecks, who brought back 17 starters from their 4-8 squad of a season ago, received a career-high 320 passing yards and four touchdown tosses from sophomore quarterback Trenton Norvell, and 137 rushing yards from senior tailback J.C. Baker in the season opener. Western Illinois outgained Valparaiso 593-277 - 273-103 on the ground. The Leathernecks are facing a nationally ranked FBS team for the first time since a 35-7 loss to eventual national champion LSU in 2003.
ABOUT WISCONSIN (0-1): Gordon had 16 rushes for 140 yards and a touchdown, but reportedly tweaked a hip flexor on a 63-yard run to open the second half and only had two more carries the rest of the way. Defensively, the Badgers allowed only 2.7 yards per rush on 47 LSU attempts, but also saw senior defensive tackles Warren Herring (knee) and Konrad Zagzebski (head/neck) go down with injuries. Andersen said neither injury is considered serious, but was non-committal about either player returning Saturday.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Wisconsin has won 29 consecutive home games against non-conference opponents - second-best to LSU's 40 among FBS teams - dating to a 23-5 loss to UNLV in 2003.
2. The Badgers defeated Western Illinois 34-10 in 2006 and 31-13 in 1991.
3. Since 1956, only former Houston RB Chuck Weatherspoon has averaged more career yards per carry than Gordon's 8.12 among FBS players with at least 300 rushes.
PREDICTION: Wisconsin 45, Western Illinois 10