Arizona State
6th PAC-126-6
Wisconsin
2nd Big Ten11-1
Arizona State @ Wisconsin preview
Camp Randall Stadium
The biggest challenge of the season is straight ahead for Wisconsin and Arizona State, undefeated teams that face each other Saturday in Madison.
Both teams have been less-than-stellar – downright sloppy at times -- against inferior competition to start the 2010 season.
Eleventh-ranked Wisconsin (2-0) enters the game on the heels of unsettling victories over UNLV (41-21) and San Jose State (27-14). While a Badger win was never in doubt in either of those games, their penchant for giving up the ball made both closer than expected and drew concern among fans.
Against San Jose State, true freshman running James White fumbled into the end zone for a touchback while reaching for the goal line with one hand, and senior quarterback Scott Tolzien mishandled a snap on fourth-and-1 from the San Jose 4. The week before, UNLV returned an interception for a touchdown, and had a long return on another interception to set up a second TD.
If the Badgers are to live up to preseason expectations and challenge for a Big Ten title and a BCS bowl bid, they can ill-afford similar problems the rest of the way, especially against a Pac-10 team like Arizona State.
Arizona State (2-0) is coming off wins over Portland State and Northern Arizona, FCS programs that play in the Big Sky Conference. Coach Dennis Erickson, who won two national championships at Miami in the 1990s, called last week’s 41-20 win over Northern Arizona “sloppy.”
The Sun Devils led only 27-20 into the fourth quarter, had two turnovers and 131 yards of penalties, including 40 on one Northern Arizona possession.
Saturday’s game will be an interesting matchup on both sides of the line.
Arizona State’s speedy and athletic defense, led by middle linebacker and leading tackler Vontaze Burfict, will try to slow a Badger rushing attack that averages 245 yards. The Sun Devils are 13th in the nation in total defense and give up an average of just 58 rushing yards.
Wisconsin running back John Clay, who runs behind one of the biggest and most experienced lines in the country, is 10th in rushing in the FBS at 130 yards per game and has had a relatively easy time churning up yards.
The Sun Devils’ spread offense will be the biggest test so far for a Wisconsin defense that has struggled against the pass. San Jose State had 252 passing yards last week, with both TDs coming through the air.
Wisconsin also hasn’t faced a quarterback as talented as Arizona State’s Steven Threet (630 yards, 5 TDs). Threet also has experience beating the Badgers. A transfer from Michigan, he led the Wolverines to a 27-25 win in 2008.
Wisconsin will be without wide receiver/kick returner David Gilreath (concussion), who was knocked unconscious and taken to the hospital last week against San Jose State. Wide receiver Nick Toon (turf toe) is questionable, but appears out, too. Playmaking linebacker Chris Borland (shoulder) should be back in the starting lineup.
For Arizona State, defensive tackle Corey Adams (knee) is questionable, and wide receiver Gerell Robinson (hamstring) is expected to play.
The last time the teams met, Arizona State won 55-7 in Tempe in 1968.
Both teams have been less-than-stellar – downright sloppy at times -- against inferior competition to start the 2010 season.
Eleventh-ranked Wisconsin (2-0) enters the game on the heels of unsettling victories over UNLV (41-21) and San Jose State (27-14). While a Badger win was never in doubt in either of those games, their penchant for giving up the ball made both closer than expected and drew concern among fans.
Against San Jose State, true freshman running James White fumbled into the end zone for a touchback while reaching for the goal line with one hand, and senior quarterback Scott Tolzien mishandled a snap on fourth-and-1 from the San Jose 4. The week before, UNLV returned an interception for a touchdown, and had a long return on another interception to set up a second TD.
If the Badgers are to live up to preseason expectations and challenge for a Big Ten title and a BCS bowl bid, they can ill-afford similar problems the rest of the way, especially against a Pac-10 team like Arizona State.
Arizona State (2-0) is coming off wins over Portland State and Northern Arizona, FCS programs that play in the Big Sky Conference. Coach Dennis Erickson, who won two national championships at Miami in the 1990s, called last week’s 41-20 win over Northern Arizona “sloppy.”
The Sun Devils led only 27-20 into the fourth quarter, had two turnovers and 131 yards of penalties, including 40 on one Northern Arizona possession.
Saturday’s game will be an interesting matchup on both sides of the line.
Arizona State’s speedy and athletic defense, led by middle linebacker and leading tackler Vontaze Burfict, will try to slow a Badger rushing attack that averages 245 yards. The Sun Devils are 13th in the nation in total defense and give up an average of just 58 rushing yards.
Wisconsin running back John Clay, who runs behind one of the biggest and most experienced lines in the country, is 10th in rushing in the FBS at 130 yards per game and has had a relatively easy time churning up yards.
The Sun Devils’ spread offense will be the biggest test so far for a Wisconsin defense that has struggled against the pass. San Jose State had 252 passing yards last week, with both TDs coming through the air.
Wisconsin also hasn’t faced a quarterback as talented as Arizona State’s Steven Threet (630 yards, 5 TDs). Threet also has experience beating the Badgers. A transfer from Michigan, he led the Wolverines to a 27-25 win in 2008.
Wisconsin will be without wide receiver/kick returner David Gilreath (concussion), who was knocked unconscious and taken to the hospital last week against San Jose State. Wide receiver Nick Toon (turf toe) is questionable, but appears out, too. Playmaking linebacker Chris Borland (shoulder) should be back in the starting lineup.
For Arizona State, defensive tackle Corey Adams (knee) is questionable, and wide receiver Gerell Robinson (hamstring) is expected to play.
The last time the teams met, Arizona State won 55-7 in Tempe in 1968.