Georgia State @ Wisconsin preview
Camp Randall Stadium
Life is good in Madison these days as Wisconsin has quickly joined the conversation as being one of the top teams in a top-heavy Big Ten conference. And there are plenty of reasons to believe that the trend will continue Saturday when the 12th-ranked Badgers host Georgia State.
Wisconsin followed up its Week 1 upset of LSU with a 54-10 pasting of Akron and can extend a non-conference winning streak that would be the sixth-longest in NCAA history at 37. The Badgers are 74-9 at Camp Randall Stadium since 2004 and shouldn’t be tested against the third-year full FBS member school from Atlanta. Wisconsin running back Corey Clement said the team, unranked during the preseason, has remained grounded and that "we want to do that every week no matter (where) we’re ranked. We have to approach every game as if we’re not in the rankings at all.'' Georgia State’s first game against a Big Ten foe is part of a process that has seen the team improve from 1-11 in 2014 to a strong finish and 6-7 mark a year ago.
TV: Noon ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Wisconsin -34
ABOUT GEORGIA STATE (0-2): The Panthers’ defense struggled during a 48-14 loss to Air Force last week, surrendering 531 total yards while spending 45:14 on the field. Senior wide receiver Robert Davis has 166 career receptions, nine behind the program’s all-time leader and current Kansas City Chief Albert Wilson. Offensively, Georgia State will need much more than the 27 rushing yards it mustered against Air Force to stay close with the Badgers.
ABOUT WISCONSIN (2-0): Defense has done it for the Badgers as it has allowed only one touchdown, created five turnovers and stopped 17 of 20 third-down conversions through two weeks. The return of linebacker T.J. Edwards has been a big boost, but the loss of junior cornerback and top kick returner Natrell Jamerson (leg) for at least the next month is tough news for a team that plays four Big Ten foes ranked in the top 11 before the end of October. Running back Corey Clement ran 21 times for 111 yards last week before leaving with what was deemed as a non-serious injury to his left leg late in the second quarter.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Wisconsin ranks second nationally in time of possession at 38:54.
2. Georgia State increased its win total by five from 2014 to 2015, a margin topped only by Southern Miss and Washington State (six).
3. Only seven of the top 46 players listed on Wisconsin’s depth chart are seniors.
PREDICTION: Wisconsin 56, Georgia State 6