Football

College Football Game of the Week: Michigan Wolverines vs Wisconsin Badgers

By Justin Adams Nov 17, 2017
Michigan Wolverines take on Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan Stadium in 2010. (Photo Courtesy: Vinnie/CC License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode)

What a week it was in college football! Miami routed Notre Dame and Auburn took down Georgia to remove them from the unbeaten ranks. This week another team puts their undefeated record on the line as #5 Wisconsin (10-0) hosts #19 Michigan (8-2).

Wisconsin has won the last three games at home against the Wolverines and haven’t trailed in the fourth quarter all season long. The Badgers are led by running back Jonathan Taylor who is third in college football in rushing with 1,525 yards.

Our picks on who will win this Big 10 showdown and Jason Romano’s interesting “upset” pick of the week.

Note: All of the rankings are from the Associated Press Poll unless otherwise noted.

Jason Romano: Wisconsin Badgers 34 – Michigan Wolverines 24 – The Badgers continue to roll at home against a Michigan team that’s playing below their expectations, but still hold a respectable 8-2 record. I think Jonathan Taylor has a big game and starts to creep into the Heisman talk a bit. On Wisconsin!

UPSET: Alabama Crimson Tide 70 – Mercer Bears 10 – The upset isn’t that Alabama wins by a WIDE margin, but that Mercer will actually score a touchdown. I’m saying they can do it. Go Mercer! (Writers note: Mercer scored 10 points on Auburn on Sept. 16. So anything is possible!)

Justin Adams: Wisconsin Badgers 23 – Michigan Wolverines 13 – Wisconsin hasn’t trailed in the fourth quarter of any game this year. That’s due to their stingy defense which gives up a college football best 248 yards per game. The Badgers will make life tough for the Wolverines offense.

UPSET (NW -7.5): Minnesota Gophers 33 – #23 Northwestern Wildcats 30 – Northwestern has won their last five games and are back in the top 25 rankings. Minnesota is coming off a blow out win against Nebraska. Quarterback Demry Croft ran for 183 yards and three touchdowns. To get the upset, Croft will have to attack the Wildcats’ 119th ranked pass defense.

Jon Ackerman: Wisconsin Badgers 30 – Michigan Wolverines 20 – Irked at being unbeaten (10-0) but still not in the top four for the playoffs, Wisconsin takes down Michigan for its second straight win over a ranked opponent. That’ll get them in the top four.

UPSET (BOISE -17.5): Air Force Falcons 37 – #25 Boise State Broncos 35 – Air Force has shocked Boise State each of the past three years. After the Broncos just found their way back into the top-25 rankings, the Falcons knock them out.

Last Week’s Picks: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Miami Hurricanes & TCU Horned Frogs vs Oklahoma Sooners 

Jason: Miami Hurricanes 30 – Notre Dame Fighting Irish 23

Oklahoma Sooners 42 – TCU Horned Frogs 41

Justin: Notre Dame Fighting Irish 31 – Miami Hurricanes 27

Oklahoma Sooners 41 – TCU Horned Frogs 38

Jon: Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34 – Miami Hurricanes 28

Oklahoma Sooners 38 – TCU Horned Frogs 28

Actual Result: Miami Hurricanes 41 – Notre Dame Fighting Irish 8

Oklahoma Sooners 38 – TCU Horned Frogs 20

Season Record: (Upset Picks in Parentheses) 

Jason: 6-7 (4-4)

Justin: 7-6 (1-7)

Jon: 6-6 (3-5)