Last Updated on November 9, 2010 8:56 pm by Anthony Rome
Indiana vs. Wisconsin Preview
MADISON, WI – Leading the Big Ten with 13 rushing touchdowns, John Clay is a big reason for Wisconsin’s success. But the team’s depth at running back may be why it has a chance to stay in the hunt for its first conference title since 1999 if Clay is unable to go this weekend.
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A knee injury could sideline Clay on Saturday when the sixth-ranked Badgers host Indiana, which hasn’t won a conference road game in three years.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made Wisconsin –21.5 point spread favorites for Saturday’s game against Indiana. Current NCAA Public Betting Information shows that 71% of more than 507 bets for this game have been placed on Wisconsin –21.5.
Wisconsin (8-2, 4-1) is one of four one-loss teams in the Big Ten and the highest ranked among those squads, which could come into play when determining which will represent the conference in the Rose Bowl if the teams remain tied.
The Badgers have won their last four, three coming by double digits. They are averaging 35.4 points and on pace to break the school record of 34.3, set in 2005.
Wisconsin got off to a slow start last Saturday but scored 28 second-half points en route to a 34-13 win at Purdue. Montee Ball ran for a career-high 127 yards and two touchdowns, seeing additional action when Clay, the Badgers’ leading rusher with 929 yards, left early in the second half.
“We’ll see exactly where he’s at as the week moves through,” coach Bret Bielema said. “He did have a slight MCL sprain, so he just basically, the MRIs came back and didn’t even look as bad as possibly James (White’s) from a week ago, so there is a chance for him this week.”
White missed last week’s game but is expected to return Saturday. The freshman has 570 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
While having Clay sidelined would not be ideal, the Badgers’ depth at running back is a big reason they rank second in the conference with 216.0 yards on the ground per game. They have three players who are among the Big Ten’s top 20 in rushing yards, including Ball, who has 346.
“We just keep moving forward,” Ball said. “Our focus is now on Indiana.”
After back-to-back games against Top 25 opponents in Ohio State and Iowa and then a visit to Purdue, Wisconsin’s schedule lightens up over the final three weeks. The Badgers host Indiana, which they’ve won five straight over by a combined score of 212-92, and then take on Michigan and Northwestern, which are each 2-3 in conference play.
Indiana (4-5, 0-5) suffered another close loss last Saturday, 18-13 to then-No. 15 Iowa. After falling by three points the week before to Northwestern, the Hoosiers gave up nine points in the final nine minutes, including a touchdown with 2:50 left.
Indiana drove to the Hawkeyes’ 18-yard line, but on fourth-and-10, Damarlo Belcher appeared to grab, then drop, what would have been a touchdown pass with 28 seconds left. A replay showed Belcher never had control of the ball and the on-field call stood.
“It’s hard,” coach Bill Lynch said of bouncing back after a tough loss. “But I think it goes to the character of the kids that we have in the program. … You keep knocking on the door and that’s the approach we are taking.”
Indiana has lost 10 straight conference games and 13 in a row on the road. Its last victory over a Big Ten opponent outside of Bloomington was Sept. 29, 2007, against Iowa.
Ben Chappell continues to be a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season. He went 27 of 46 for 222 yards last weekend and leads the Big Ten with 296.3 passing yards per game.
However, he could face a bigger challenge against a Wisconsin defense that ranks third in the conference against the pass, giving up an average of 195.1 yards, and picked off Purdue’s Sean Robinson three times last weekend. The Badgers scored 24 points off four Boilermakers turnovers.
Wisconsin leads the series against Indiana in Madison 20-8-1. This is their first meeting at Camp Randall Stadium since a 33-3 win for the Badgers on Oct. 27, 2007.
The Hoosiers’ last win in the series was 32-29 in 2002.
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