B1G Championship Game - Wisconsin vs Ohio St. - Saturday, Dec 7th, 7PM

[PeaveyFury]

Wisconsin up four spots to 8th, which is most important because it has them 2 ahead of Penn State with a little wiggle room.

[DuWayne Steurer]

While not enough things went right last saturday to realistically get the badgers back into the cfp discussion, jumping to 8 keeps them alive for the rose if they hang close with the buckeyes I think.

[OldHeidelberg]

You don't get a lot of rematches in college football so I am hoping the Badgers are better prepared for what's coming Saturday. I think it will be closer and OSU just might be peeking past this game. 30-27 Badgers hold on with a late turnover.

[homer]

You don't get a lot of rematches in college football so I am hoping the Badgers are better prepared for what's coming Saturday. I think it will be closer and OSU just might be peeking past this game. 30-27 Badgers hold on with a late turnover.

 

I like your optimism!

 

I like the Badgers chances. Of course, I always like their chances so I'm often wrong (as I was when they got throttled 56- 0). Realistically, I don't believe they'll win but I think it will be a close game and OSU scores late to clinch. Something like 31 - 21.

[Mr Southpaw]

Something I don't think they've pulled out yet is Groshek throwing a pass. I could easily be wrong though. I seem to remember they were lined up in a WC with him at QB in a big 3rd or 4th down situation this year where I predicted that would be the call but there was a false start, timeout, or something that changed things and it didn't happen. If they're down big in this game I wouldn't bother showing it, but as some point you'd think they could burn someone with it or get an easy 2 pt conversion with it.

They need to back the barge.

 

I'm serious. Have Groshek as the wildcat QB, Taylor as the Z flanker who goes in motion across the formation.

 

You can't match up speed with OSU, so don't - match up with your strength, big-boy football. Send Taylor in a jet sweep across the formation pre-snap - he will draw attention from the defense. When one of the most prolific RBs in the history of college football goes across the formation in a jet sweep, it will draw the defense. If only one defender follows Taylor, then you have Taylor 1-on-1 against a defender, and I like those odds - if it's a DB, he can overpower him, if it's a LB he can outrun him. If they have two defenders follow Taylor across the formation, it creates an extra blocker advantage on the strong side for Groshek to run behind.

 

QB - Groshek, Z - Taylor

LT - Van Lanen, LG - Lyles/Moorman, C - Biadasz, RG - Erdmann, RT - Bruss, XT - Beach, XT - Seltzner, TE - Sampson, TE - Ferguson

 

If they sell out on the run, do what James White did and throw a short pass over the line to a TE or eligible lineman who sneaks behind the defense. It's one of the few plays that levels the playing field against OSU.

 

I have been waiting for this formation for two years. It is time to empty the cookie jar.

[MrTPlush]

I had a dream last night and they were up 50-16. I’m not sure the quarter, I think the 3rd. Defense had multiple pick 6’s and Coan was on fire.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I had a dream last night and they were up 50-16. I’m not sure the quarter, I think the 3rd. Defense had multiple pick 6’s and Coan was on fire.

 

There is probably about a .1% chance of that happening, but if the Badgers do get an unlikely blowout on Saturday, it would probably be very difficult to keep them out of the playoff.

[DuWayne Steurer]

I had a dream last night and they were up 50-16. I’m not sure the quarter, I think the 3rd. Defense had multiple pick 6’s and Coan was on fire.

 

There is probably about a .1% chance of that happening, but if the Badgers do get an unlikely blowout on Saturday, it would probably be very difficult to keep them out of the playoff.

 

 

They are eight right now. Even if they blow Ohio State out. Oklahoma and Baylor play each other only one of them can lose. They're not going to jump Oklahoma, who I think is going to win that game. LSU will beat Georgia. For the sake of argument let's assume Oregon beats Utah. Then let's assume Clemson by some miracle loses to Virginia. A 2-loss Badger team, even with a blowout win over Ohio State still isn't going to jump a one-loss Clemson.

 

Even if the Badgers beat Ohio State 50 to 7, and everything else falls exactly how we needed it to happen, last Saturday was where the things that we needed to happen went south.

[MrTPlush]

I would be nearly 100% confident slaughtering Ohio State would cause them to drop below Wisconsin in the standings. We won't blow them out, but I think OSU would lose their spot in the CFP if we did.

[PlayerHader]

I would be nearly 100% confident slaughtering Ohio State would cause them to drop below Wisconsin in the standings. We won't blow them out, but I think OSU would lose their spot in the CFP if we did.

 

It's kind of a silly debate because I think if EVERYTHING goes right, we might win by a score. I'm typically very fanboyish on UW, but I just don't see them winning or even keeping it within a couple scores.

[3and2Fastball]

Sincere question as I don’t know the answer: how would it be possible that Penn State could go to the Rose Bowl when Wisconsin beat them head to head and are in the Big 10 Championship game?

[MrTPlush]

Sincere question as I don’t know the answer: how would it be possible that Penn State could go to the Rose Bowl when Wisconsin beat them head to head and are in the Big 10 Championship game?

 

Because they didn't play them, let alone beat them head to head.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Sincere question as I don’t know the answer: how would it be possible that Penn State could go to the Rose Bowl when Wisconsin beat them head to head and are in the Big 10 Championship game?

 

Wisconsin didn't play Penn State this year. Penn State's two losses are to Minnesota and Ohio State.

[3and2Fastball]

Sincere question as I don’t know the answer: how would it be possible that Penn State could go to the Rose Bowl when Wisconsin beat them head to head and are in the Big 10 Championship game?

 

Wisconsin didn't play Penn State this year. Penn State's two losses are to Minnesota and Ohio State.

 

Oh jeeez. I better stick to Baseball! Never mind... thanks for the response

[OldHeidelberg]

I had a dream last night and they were up 50-16. I’m not sure the quarter, I think the 3rd. Defense had multiple pick 6’s and Coan was on fire.

 

There is probably about a .1% chance of that happening, but if the Badgers do get an unlikely blowout on Saturday, it would probably be very difficult to keep them out of the playoff.

 

 

They are eight right now. Even if they blow Ohio State out. Oklahoma and Baylor play each other only one of them can lose. They're not going to jump Oklahoma, who I think is going to win that game. LSU will beat Georgia. For the sake of argument let's assume Oregon beats Utah. Then let's assume Clemson by some miracle loses to Virginia. A 2-loss Badger team, even with a blowout win over Ohio State still isn't going to jump a one-loss Clemson.

 

Even if the Badgers beat Ohio State 50 to 7, and everything else falls exactly how we needed it to happen, last Saturday was where the things that we needed to happen went south.

 

I thought maybe their one path left was possibly jumping one loss Baylor(along with a couple of other games going our way) who is only one spot ahead of them but the 538 thing doesn't seem to think so. Weirdly if you pick the Badgers and Oregon to both win they put the Badgers at 49% to make it. I don't see it, and none of the radio or media guys I have heard seem to even talk about the Badgers having a chance other than mentioning the blowout possibility.

[RollieTime]

If Georgia, Oklahoma, and Utah lose, I could see the Badgers getting the 4 seed. Kirk Herbstreit mentioned something like this today as well. If all of that happens, even though Baylor would take down Oklahoma, he believes the Badgers would jump Baylor and get the 4 seed because of beating a team like Ohio State.

 

Clemson is a team that could fall out of the top 4 as well if they lose to Virginia. If Clemson, Oklahoma, and Utah lose, that’s a possible way in for the Badgers as well.

 

Those are probably the only two outcomes that could give the Badgers a chance to get the 4 seed.

[DuWayne Steurer]

If Baylor beats Oklahoma, I just don't see the 2-loss Badgers jumping them unless they absolutely dump Ohio State in the trash, and even then, I don't really see it. Same with Clemson. 1 loss CLemson >> 2 loss Wisconsin.

 

I get that Clemson and Baylor don't have a bunch of top 25 wins, but neither do either of them have a loss like the Illinois game on their resumes, and at the end of the day, the Badgers are a 2 loss team, and they lost to Illinois. If we were talking about them maybe jumping another 2 loss team, I could see it, but I absolutely don't see them jumping 4 spots, and jumping multiple 1 loss teams.

[OldHeidelberg]

If Georgia, Oklahoma, and Utah lose, I could see the Badgers getting the 4 seed. Kirk Herbstreit mentioned something like this today as well. If all of that happens, even though Baylor would take down Oklahoma, he believes the Badgers would jump Baylor and get the 4 seed because of beating a team like Ohio State.

 

Clemson is a team that could fall out of the top 4 as well if they lose to Virginia. If Clemson, Oklahoma, and Utah lose, that’s a possible way in for the Badgers as well.

 

Those are probably the only two outcomes that could give the Badgers a chance to get the 4 seed.

 

Well I guess if that's true then IF Wis and Oregon win then the Badgers would need 2 of the other 3 games to fall their way and that would seem like about a 49% chance. I guess I will be rooting for the Ducks friday night to keep us alive, kind of surprised they are underdogs but I know nothing about those teams except the Oregon QB.

[OldHeidelberg]

If Baylor beats Oklahoma, I just don't see the 2-loss Badgers jumping them unless they absolutely dump Ohio State in the trash, and even then, I don't really see it. Same with Clemson. 1 loss CLemson >> 2 loss Wisconsin.

 

I get that Clemson and Baylor don't have a bunch of top 25 wins, but neither do either of them have a loss like the Illinois game on their resumes, and at the end of the day, the Badgers are a 2 loss team, and they lost to Illinois. If we were talking about them maybe jumping another 2 loss team, I could see it, but I absolutely don't see them jumping 4 spots, and jumping multiple 1 loss teams.

 

A couple of selection sundays ago everyone was sure a 2 loss OSU that got trounced on the road by mediocre Iowa was going to get in over 1 loss Bama and 1 loss UW. It didn't happen but I remember the committee pointing to the ugly Iowa loss as a big factor. The Illinois loss wasn't as bad as that and was sort of a fluky 1 point loss. I also wonder if the string of Bama/Clemson games could force them to evolve a bit, they have the conference champion criteria thing in their back pocket that they could use if they wanted to mix things up. I know losses are the only thing they have consistent on as a tiebreaker but it is still early in all this. It can't be said enough, 8 teams with the power 5 champions all getting autobids makes so much sense I really can't believe they don't do it, it really expands the playoffs beyond those 8 and creates a ton of meaningful games late season.

[Samurai Bucky]

If Georgia, Oklahoma, and Utah lose, I could see the Badgers getting the 4 seed. Kirk Herbstreit mentioned something like this today as well. If all of that happens, even though Baylor would take down Oklahoma, he believes the Badgers would jump Baylor and get the 4 seed because of beating a team like Ohio State.

 

Clemson is a team that could fall out of the top 4 as well if they lose to Virginia. If Clemson, Oklahoma, and Utah lose, that’s a possible way in for the Badgers as well.

 

Those are probably the only two outcomes that could give the Badgers a chance to get the 4 seed.

Even if the above happens, there is no way the Badgers get in -- even if the Badgers win 70-7.

 

If Georgia loses, their losses will be to LSU in the championship game and to South Carolina. That would be compared to losing to OSU and to Illinois. And... Georgia name recognition > Wisconsin.

 

If Baylor wins, they have one loss to Oklahoma... whom they will have just beaten. Since Oklahoma name recognition > Wisconsin, Baylor gets in.

[MrTPlush]

I don't think Wisconsin gets in with a win, they need the blowout. If Wisconsin blows out Ohio State I would expect Ohio State to drop from the Top 4 and be behind Wisconsin, even if by one spot. This is exactly what happened in 2017 with Ohio State/Wisconsin. They aren't totally comparable situations, but I don't think the CFP can ignore a blowout win. Unless they admit Ohio State had nothing to play for and were in regardless...thus inferring they weren't trying hard. I doubt they do that, I just don't think they can logically place OSU over Wisconsin at that point. I think Wisconsin would get rewarded for blowing out Ohio State.

[owbc]

The difference is ultimately that Clemson got lucky against UNC and Wisconsin didn't against Illinois.

 

Although 2 losses to OSU would be disqualifying under any scenario. The high rankings of these mediocre 1-loss Pac-12 teams shows that losses are ultimately what matters.

 

Best case is a good showing against OSU and a Rose Bowl win. The blowout win scenarios are too impossible for me to even comprehend.

[brewcrewdue80]

Ohio State plus the points. Coan is not gifted enough to beat this team. He was a huge problem in game 1. Nothing has changed what he brings as a QB since game 1. The hopeful outcome here is that the committee keeps WI ranked above Penn St. to go the Rose Bowl.

[tmwiese55]

I actually don't think Coan was the problem in game 1. him not having more than 1.5 seconds to throw and having no run game were the key things. There's more to FB than the QB. Sure, of course if you had a freak like Wilson he can dodge all those rushers and make something happen, but that's just not realistic.

 

Yea I'm also fairly sure OSU wipes the floor with us. 17 gives me cause for concern on a bet but I do think OSU covers it. Probably going to look for a 1H line under 10 and load up on that to hedge a bit. With how leaky our D got in the 2nd half of the season I don't know how we stop them unless Fields goes down, and even then...

[MadThinker88]

Throughout this thread I have seen talk about why WI could win the game or have a better showing/ outcome then earlier in the year. Nowhere has the other side been addressed. Take a moment to consider the motivation for OSU on Saturday.

 

Not only does OSU want to show that the previous meeting was not a fluke or a result due to weather conditions & location, they want to be the 1st college team to win a conference title winning all 10 conference contests. Until that was pointed out by Joel Klatt, I didn't realize that was a thing or even possible. Now that it has been put out there, I don't think the impact/ importance of that 'record' can be ignored. Being the 1st to do something/ anything is noteworthy & it provides motivation to players & coaches.

 

OSU also wants to do well enough in order to remain #1 in the playoff ranking & therefore avoid a 1st round match with Clemson before a possible match-up with LSU in the championship round. While doing this they wish to remain healthy & available for the next game.

 

Both WI & OSU have a habit of remaining close thru Q1 before starting to pull away from the opponent in Q2 & Q3. I don't know how the game on Saturday will go. Its why the game is played on the field and not in chatrooms/ bars. But just like WI can have a better result then earlier, the game Saturday could also get ugly and it could get away from WI fast.

 

 

Much like it did in Dec 2014.