Utah State Aggies at Wisconsin Badgers
Saturday, September 15, 2012, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: Big Ten Net
Camp Randall Stadium – Madison, Wisconsin
Opening Line: Wisconsin -13 1/2
Current Line: Wisconsin -14 1/2
Opening Total: 52
Current Total: 51 1/2
Opening Money Line: Wisconsin -475 / Utah St +395
Current Money Line: Wisconsin -550 / Utah St +450
The Wisconsin Badgers host the Utah State Aggies Saturday. It is the second ever meeting between the schools, but they haven’t played since 1968. Utah State upset Wisconsin in Madison in that game 20-0 if you were wondering.
Utah State is 2-0 this season under coach Gary Andersen. The Aggies have home wins against in-state rivals Southern Utah 34-3 and Utah 27-20 in overtime. Utah St is averaging 480.5 yards per game including 260 passing yards and 220.5 rushing yards per game. The Aggies are allowing 267 yards per game on defense, including 191 passing yards and 76 rushing yards. Utah State is outscoring opponents 30.5-11.5 this season. The Aggies are 2-0 ATS and the total is 0-1 this season.
Last week, Utah St was a 7 point underdog at home to Utah, and the total was 50. The Aggies scored two first quarter touchdowns, but missed the extra point on the second one. Neither team scored again until Utah kicked a field goal on the last play of the second quarter to make it 13-3 Aggies at the half. The Utes scored 10 third quarter points to tie it up, Utah State scored with just over 9 minutes to go in the fourth to take a 20-13 lead. Utah tied it up with 3:19 left. The Aggies were unable to do anything with their possession, and had to punt. Utah got the ball back with 48 seconds left. The Utes drove into long field goal range, but missed a 52 yard kick as time expired. The game went into overtime. Utah St scored a touchdown in their OT possession. Utah came down to 4th and goal at the 17 on their possession, but back-up quarterback Jon Hays was unable to complete the pass. The Aggies escaped with the 27-20, their first win since 1997 in the series. The Aggies had lost 12 straight to their rivals.
Utah St had 380 total yards including 164 rushing yards. Quarterback Chuckie Keeton completed 22 of 32 passes for 216 yards and threw two touchdowns, and also added 17 carries for 86 yards. Running back Kerwynn Williams had 17 carries for 95 yards and the game winning touchdown run in overtime. Receiver Kellen Bartlett had 8 catches, 47 yards and a touchdown. Utah had 325 yards including 96 rushing yards. Neither team was effective on third or fourth downs. Utah was 3/19 on conversions, and Utah St was 2/14. The game was very sloppy on both sides, as it featured a combined 22 penalties for 188 yards, 3 turnovers, two missed field goals, a missed extra point, and a blocked punt that Utah St recovered for their first touchdown. The Utes and Aggies combined for 19 punts.
Through two games, Keeton has completed 44 of 57 passes (77.2%), with 4 touchdowns and one interception. He also has 24 carries for 89 yards. Williams has 32 carries for 158 yards and a touchdown. Joe Hill has 11 carries for 116 yards, with 3 touchdowns, along with 2 catches for 32 yards and a touchdown catch. Matt Austin has 7 catches, 147 yards, and a touchdown. Chuck Jacobs has 6 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. Bartlett has 10 catches, 68 yards and a touchdown.
Wisconsin is coached by Bret Bielema. The Badgers are 1-1 this season with a 26-21 win at home over Northern Iowa, and a 10-7 upset loss at Oregon St last week. Wisconsin is averaging 297 yards per game including 195.5 passing yards and 101.5 rushing yards. The Badgers are scoring 16.5 points a game. Wisconsin is ranked 91st or lower in all of those categories. The lack of a running game is especially troubling considering they have Montee Ball, one of the best running backs in the country if not the best. In my opinion, the biggest difference is longtime offensive coordinator Paul Chryst left to become the head coach at Pitt. Chryst was known for his creative play calling.
On defense, Wisconsin is holding opponents to 330 yards per game, including 270.5 passing yards and 59.5 rushing yards. Badger opponents are scoring 15.5 points a game. The Badgers are 0-2 ATS and the total is 0-1 this season.
Wisconsin was a 6 point favorite last week at Oregon St, and the total was 49. Oregon St kicked a field goal early in the second quarter. Neither team would score until the third when the Beavers took a 10-0 lead. Wisconsin didn’t score until there was 1:31 left in the fourth on an 11 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Danny O’Brien. The Badgers then attempted an onside kick, and recovered it. However, replays showed the Badgers touched it before it went 10 yards, and it was reversed. Oregon St got the ball back and ran out the clock to preserve the 10-7 upset. It was the first non-conference loss for Wisconsin in 33 games.
The Badgers had 207 total yards, including a paltry 35 rushing yards. O’Brien completed 20 of 38 passes for 172 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Ball had 15 carries for 61 yards. Ball had scored a touchdown in 21 straight games before last week. The Badgers were 4/18 on third and fourth down conversions, and had just 13 first downs. Wisconsin had 2 turnovers. Oregon St had 354 yards including 276 passing yards. The Beavers had 8 penalties for 75 yards, but no turnovers.
O’Brien has completed 63.9% of his passes for 391 yards with 3 touchdowns and an interception. Ball has 47 carries, 181 yards and a touchdown, along with 7 catches for 49 yards. Jared Abbrederis has 7 catches, 110 yards, and 2 touchdowns. He is doubtful with a chest injury. Look for Jacob Pedersen and Jeff Duckworth to get more targets if Abbrederis can’t go.
Utah St is 4-1 ATS in non-conference games, and in September, 3-10 after a cover, and 2-7 after a straight up win, and 1-4 in road games.
Wisconsin is 40-3 at home straight up under Bielema, including 17 straight wins. The Badgers are 12-3-1 ATS at home, 2-6-1 after scoring less than 20 points, 1-4 after allowing less than 20 points, 1-5 against teams with winning records, 1-5 on fieldturf, and 0-4 overall.
Wisconsin has to improve on offense. That starts with getting Ball rolling in the running game. Utah St is 2-0 for the first time since 1997. Going into Madison, even against a struggling Wisconsin team, and getting a win is a lot to ask of the Aggies. Wisconsin wins , but Utah St hangs around.
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