Wisconsin vs. Akron prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins Week 2’s matchup between the Badgers and Zips.
Wisconsin vs. Akron Game Preview
When: Saturday, Sept. 10 – 3:30 ET
Where: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wis..
Broadcast: Big Ten Network
One of the greatest opening weekends in college football history featured the first major college game played at Lambeau Field, and Wisconsin took full advantage of the moment. Its 16-14 upset of LSU marked a historic victory that also put the Badgers on the national radar. Now they just have to avoid a letdown.
Thomas Woodson leads Akron into Camp Randall after going 23 of 32 for 407 yards and six touchdown passes in last week’s 47-24 win over VMI. The Zips defense leaves plenty to be desired, but Woodson and running back Warren Ball could help make this one interesting.
What To Know About Wisconsin
While the victory over LSU is nice, it wasn’t exactly pretty offensively. Bart Houston threw two interceptions without a touchdown pass, and the Badgers went 3 for 15 on third down. When Corey Clement’s 5-yard touchdown run put them up 13-0 with less than 11 minutes left in the third quarter, Wisconsin began to fall apart and lost the lead before the quarter ended. Luckily its defense saved the day, forcing a Brandon Harris interception on LSU’s final drive and forcing three turnovers while holding the Tigers to fewer than 300 total yards. There’s still plenty of improvement left for the Badgers, who can’t afford to rest on that win.
What to Know About Akron
The Zips’ win went down basically the opposite way of Wisconsin’s. Akron fell behind early, went into the fourth holding a slim two-point lead and needed its offense to bail it out. And if the Zips explode offensively again, the Badgers could be in trouble. Woodson hit JoJo Natson for three touchdowns, and Jerome Lane finished with 10 catches for 196 yards and a pair of TD receptions. Ball, an Ohio State transfer, rushed for 110 yards and another score. But can the Zips’ defense do enough to keep them in the game against Wisconsin?
Advantages
Offense: Even – Wisconsin knows it can be better than it was last week.
Defense: Wisconsin – Stepped up when it need to. Akron’s struggled.
Special Teams: Wisconsin – P.J. Rosowski’s solid punting helped play the field-position game last week.
Coaching: Even – Terry Bowden has the Zips moving in the right direction in the MAC. Paul Chryst is proving last year’s 10-win team in his first season with the Badgers was no fluke.
Intangibles: Wisconsin – If Akron commits 13 penalties again, this one could get out of hand.
Matchup To Watch
Woodson vs. Wisconsin’s defense
The Badgers might be more concerned about their rush defense after Leonard Fournette averaged six yards per carry last week. But if Woodson and his strong cast of receivers get going, Wisconsin might be in for a bigger fight than it expected.
Betting Odds
Spread: Wisconsin -24
Over/Under: 45 1/2
Wisconsin vs. Akron Prediction
Houston leads an efficient Wisconsin offense and the Badgers defense is too much for Woodson to handle.
