As a die-hard Michigan State fan, however, I hope I am wrong...because the Badgers head into what will be a hostile environment for their first road test in East Lansing this Saturday night. The Spartans will be looking to build on the momentum from their 28-14 victory over their intra-state rival wearing the maize and blue. Though Michigan State has high expectations for themselves, I would be surprised if the Badgers lost to the green and white, or any other Big Ten team for that matter. The closest game for Bielema's troops has been a 48-17 come-from-behind whomping of the traditional powerhouse Nebraska Cornhuskers. Somehow the team is only 6th in the BCS ratings. If they manage to win at Michigan State, I would expect them to jump Boise State, who plays a much weaker schedule.
The Badgers have six straight dominating performances. Russell Wilson is looking like a Heisman candidate while his offensive line is looking like an NFL caliber front. The transfer quarterback is completing more than 74% of his passes behind that wall up front, and has thrown for an impressive 14 touchdowns and only one lonely interception. He reminds me of the young Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles. Not only can the big man throw the ball, but he also averages 7.6 yards a rush. It almost seems unnecessary that Wilson is a good runner because he has two All-Big Ten caliber backs in James White and Montee Ball on his side. The two have already combined for twenty touchdowns. The weapons don't stop there, however.This pro-style offense has receivers who will soon be playing on Sundays. Nick Toon, Jared Abbrederis, and tight end Jacob Pedersen are all extremely talented and impressive pass-catchers. Toon is making a name for himself in a hurry, and is one of my top five receivers in the country. The athletic wideout is averaging almost 18 yards per catch, making him one of the game's most elite deep threats. The Badgers' offense is ranked 1st in the nation averaging more than 50 points a contest.
Not only are Toon, Wilson, and the offense clicking on all cylinders, but the defense has been on its A-game as well. In six games, no team has scored over 17 points on the Badgers defense, which is ranked 3rd nationally. They are holding their opponents to only 9.7 points per game.
The Badgers are rolling through every team that gets in their path. They play ferociously on both sides of the ball. These men in red and white are the Big Ten front runners and are optimistic they can not only win the conference, but also compete for a national title. Don't be surprised if it happens. Their upcoming road meeting with conference opponent Michigan State will reveal a lot about the Badgers. Time keeps us from knowing if they are a great team or an elite team. We will just have to wait and see.
