For a second straight season, Wisconsin (3-1) will open Big Ten play by taking on Nebraska (3-1). These two teams met under the lights of Camp Randall Stadium in 2011. That game received national exposure as it was the first for the Cornhuskers in the Big Ten and both they and the Badgers were ranked in the top ten in both the coaches and media polls. Wisconsin proved to be quite inhospitable, blowing out Nebraska, 48-17. Head coach Bret Bielema knows that the Cornhuskers will be looking for revenge in front of their home crowd…
[audio:http://wdor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/BIELEMA13.mp3|titles=BIELEMA1]Nebraska has put up impressive numbers offensively in 2012. The Cornhuskers are number one in scoring and yards in the Big Ten. They own the conference’s top ranked rushing offense and are ranked fifth in passing. Taylor Martinez has completed 70 percent of his passes for 878 yards and nine touchdowns and he has added 266 yards rushing and two scores. Coach Bielema is impressed with the play of Nebraska’s quarterback…
[audio:http://wdor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/BIELEMA22.mp3|titles=BIELEMA2]Martinez has thrown just one interception through four games and he is tenth in the nation in passing efficiency. However, last season at Madison, the Nebraska QB threw three first half interceptions which sparked the Wisconsin rout. Its that performance the has Badgers defensive lineman David Gilbert not convinced that Martinez can beat them with his arm…
[audio:http://wdor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/GILBERT1.mp3|titles=GILBERT1](Coach Bielema has benched Gilbert for his comments regarding Martinez. Gilbert will not start, but is expected to play.)
Wisconsin’s quarterback, redshirt freshman Joel Stave, will make his first career road start. Most of the 81,091 fans at Memorial Stadium will not be in Stave’s corner, but that does not worry him. Stave learned how to handle a hostile environment by watching Russell Wilson…
[audio:http://wdor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/STAVE1.mp3|titles=STAVE1]Saturday night’s Wisconsin – Nebraska game can be heard on 93.9 FM WDOR. Coverage begins at 5 PM. Kickoff from Lincoln, Nebraska is at 7 PM. Matt LePay and Mike Lucas will have the call.
Notes:
Wisconsin running back Montee Ball is expected to play after leaving the UTEP game with a head injury.
Wisconsin is ranked 23rd in this week’s USA Today Coaches Poll. The Badgers received votes in the AP Media Poll. Nebraska is ranked 20th in the coaches poll and 22nd in the media top 25.
This is Wisconsin’s seventh meeting with Nebraska. Each team has three wins in the series, but the Badgers are 0-2 at Nebraska.
Wisconsin is 35-24 all-time in night games. The Badgers are 18-18 in night road games.
Both teams will wear alternate uniforms tonight:
Wisconsin-Nebraska Uniforms
Wisconsin-Nebraska Uniforms
