Rutgers @ Wisconsin preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 31, 2015 ) Rutgers 10, Wisconsin 48

A regular participant in the Big Ten Championship game, Wisconsin probably cannot afford another loss the rest of the way if it wants to make a sixth trip in eight years. Following their second defeat in their last three contests, the Badgers hope to get back on track Saturday when they host Rutgers.

Playing without quarterback Alex Hornibrook (concussion) and several defensive starters, Wisconsin ran for a season-low 165 yards and matched its season total entering the game with three fumbles en route to a 31-17 loss at Northwestern last weekend in a battle for first place in the Big Ten West. "I was proud of the effort certainly of a lot of our guys, but we need to play better football. We need to take better care of the football," Badgers coach Paul Chryst said. The Scarlet Knights are coming off a bye week following an 18-15 home loss versus Northwestern on Oct. 20 - their seventh straight defeat. The setback may have been Rutgers' best chance to get another win before the end of the season, especially considering it closes out the regular season against three of the top four teams in the East Division (No. 5 Michigan, No. 13 Penn State and Michigan State) after it leaves Camp Randall Stadium this weekend.

TV: Noon ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Wisconsin -28.5.

ABOUT RUTGERS (1-7, 0-5 Big Ten): Sophomore running back Raheem Blackshear, who paces the team with 686 all-purpose yards, 90 carries and 27 receptions, is attempting to become the first Scarlet Knight to lead the team in both carries and receptions since Brian Leonard in 2003. Eddie Lewis' 22 catches are the most for a Rutgers true freshman since Mohamed Sanu in 2009, while fellow rookie Isaih Pacheco has rushed for 183 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries over the last two games. Senior linebacker Trevor Morris is fourth in the Big Ten with 8.9 tackles per game and needs only three more to become the 11th player in school history to reach 300 for his career.

ABOUT WISCONSIN (5-3, 3-2): Sophomore Jack Coan finished 20-of-31 for 158 yards and a touchdown in his first action of the season last weekend for the Badgers, who played without safety D'cota Dixon (leg), safety Scott Nelson (leg) and cornerback Deron Harrell (leg) among others. The increased defensive attention on the running game led to a season-low 46 yards for the nation's leading rusher, sophomore Jonathan Taylor (1,155), who had his eight-game streak of running for at least 100 yards snapped. Senior left guard Michael Deiter is expected to make his 50th career start this weekend; when he does, he will become only the fourth player in school history to reach that benchmark.

EXTRA POINTS

1. A victory on Saturday would make Chryst only the third coach in modern Big Ten history to win 40 games in his first four seasons at a conference school.

2. The Badgers are the only Big Ten opponent Rutgers has not faced under third-year coach Chris Ash, who served as a Wisconsin assistant coach from 2010-12.

3. Despite starting seven different defensive backs over the last three games, the Badgers have allowed one touchdown pass and recorded six interceptions in that span.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 42, Rutgers 10