Agreed, people get too worked up after one game. We will compete against Wisconsin just fine. Last time we played them we had a mediocre offense and a solid defense. Now we have a great offense and mediocre defense.

I decided a couple years ago to not let these losses get to me as much as they used to because i've come to accept that NIU Football will disappoint you every year. We don't win close games and we lose games we shouldn't every year. Just my observation over the last eight years.

However, we still have a good program (that's why we expect more) that is worth following.

I want us to win this game soo bad, yet at the same time i know it is not the end of the world if we lose. Our main goal is to win the MACC. I believe we will be able to compete with Wisconsin. It will be a good game.

Wisky is the class of the Big 10 and Wilson has performed above expectation in the first 2 games. As he becomes more familiar with his team and the offense he's only going to get better as the season goes on. NIU will do well to hold Wisky within 14.

The one positive is that all the pressure is off, just go out and play loose. If NIU scores first, that would be our only hope to maybe introduce some uncertainty with Wisconsin and get them in a place they haven't been all year, behind.

before this season began I thought we had a very, very long shot at upsetting wisky.

With results in from two games apiece and their new QB settling in, all chances for remaining competitive vrs Badgers this yr have gone out the window.

Much of that is them & a some of it is us.

Unless fifty badgers come down with food poisoning from bad brats and cheese the nite before leaving Madsion, unfortunantely the game is SF will be a blow out rather than the showdown once anticipated.

56-13 seems about right.

As long as we score 7 on every possession, as Wisconsin will do, and we score last, we will win the game.

Wisky has not played anyone! Oregon State is ranked 100 by Sagarin and UNLV is 138. We are ranked 74 and have played a tougher schedule. Not
saying Wisky is a paper tiger but they are not a top ten team either. We will
win or keep it very close. This game is not at Camp Randall and we are undefeated on ESPN3.

GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(09-12-2011 01:22 PM)pantone1935 Wrote:  Wisky has not played anyone! Oregon State is ranked 100 by Sagarin and UNLV is 138. We are ranked 74 and have played a tougher schedule. Not
saying Wisky is a paper tiger but they are not a top ten team either. We will
win or keep it very close. This game is not at Camp Randall and we are undefeated on ESPN3.

GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now THAT is reaching for it!

(09-12-2011 01:35 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(09-12-2011 01:22 PM)pantone1935 Wrote:  Wisky has not played anyone! Oregon State is ranked 100 by Sagarin and UNLV is 138. We are ranked 74 and have played a tougher schedule. Not
saying Wisky is a paper tiger but they are not a top ten team either. We will
win or keep it very close. This game is not at Camp Randall and we are undefeated on ESPN3.

GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now THAT is reaching for it!

So THAT's why they put this game on ESPN3. All making more sense now.

(09-12-2011 12:20 PM)onlinepole Wrote:  Wisky is the class of the Big 10 and Wilson has performed above expectation in the first 2 games. As he becomes more familiar with his team and the offense he's only going to get better as the season goes on. NIU will do well to hold Wisky within 14.

Which means he is due for a game with an interception/stupid mistakes. He was kinda known for not always making the best plays at NC State regardless of the talent. Hopefully Saturday will be that game.

Against a wretched mid-major brand defense I don't think we need to worry about Wilson turning into **** on Saturday. That scenario might happen in a game against one of the powers of the Big 10, but it is extremely doubtful to happen in a contest against a NIU defensive squad that, in addition to being woeful, will also have to face the mammoth Badger o-line.

Wilson is good. Go look at his three years previous. He's always put up quality numbers. He's not a mirage.

(09-12-2011 06:02 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  Which means he is due for a game with an interception/stupid mistakes. He was kinda known for not always making the best plays at NC State regardless of the talent. Hopefully Saturday will be that game.

He doesn't really have a problem with interceptions or stupid mistakes. His career TD/Int ratio is ridiculously good and his career interception rate is above average. People look at his gross number of interceptions last year (14) and assume he doesn't make good decisions. The fact is that he threw the ball 527 times, and his interception ratio (2.7%) isn't an issue, especially considering the NC State offense was almost completely reliant on him producing every single game. He didn't have a lot of help. When you throw it 40 times a game, you're going to get picked unless you're throwing little bubble screens all game, which he wasn't doing.

That said, I'd be perfectly fine with him freaking out for some reason and throwing 5 picks on Saturday.

(09-11-2011 05:44 PM)klake87 Wrote:  After seeing Kansas move the ball on us, is anyone else more worried about Wisconsin. Wisconsin might score on every possession. Harnish will have to play flawless for us not to get blown our. I thought 42-30 might be the game. Now 52 - 21 could be a reality

Not really worried,just hope we play the best we can thats all we can hope for.

(09-11-2011 05:44 PM)klake87 Wrote:  After seeing Kansas move the ball on us, is anyone else more worried about Wisconsin. Wisconsin might score on every possession. Harnish will have to play flawless for us not to get blown our. I thought 42-30 might be the game. Now 52 - 21 could be a reality

79-28 is a possibility

Our small RBs only had 55 yards on 17 carries against KS ... 3.2 ypc. I can't imagine them doing any better against Wisconsin, which basically puts the entire offense on the shoulders of Chandler ... I just hope he doesn't get injured trying to do too much trying to keep the game somewhat competitive with Wisky.

(09-12-2011 06:29 PM)UIHuskie Wrote:  

(09-12-2011 06:02 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  Which means he is due for a game with an interception/stupid mistakes. He was kinda known for not always making the best plays at NC State regardless of the talent. Hopefully Saturday will be that game.

He doesn't really have a problem with interceptions or stupid mistakes. His career TD/Int ratio is ridiculously good and his career interception rate is above average. People look at his gross number of interceptions last year (14) and assume he doesn't make good decisions. The fact is that he threw the ball 527 times, and his interception ratio (2.7%) isn't an issue, especially considering the NC State offense was almost completely reliant on him producing every single game. He didn't have a lot of help. When you throw it 40 times a game, you're going to get picked unless you're throwing little bubble screens all game, which he wasn't doing.

That said, I'd be perfectly fine with him freaking out for some reason and throwing 5 picks on Saturday.

Good point about the passing amount, but just the way he stands in the pocket throwing off balance more times than not and eyes down some of his receivers, seems like he goes about it to nonchalantly at times. I've only watched him in maybe about 4 or 5 games while at NC and now Wisconsin, but that has been what I noticed. Could be just me. But I also would be perfectly fine with him forgetting how to throw to a open receiver Saturday. Should be a great game and can't wait to start tailgating at the stadium.

Harnish takes a small step backwards this week and D is completely over-matched at every level. 45-24 Badgers. Never really that close, but our offense will move the ball like Army did in the 4th quarter once Wisky's down to their 2s and 3s.

Kansas sold out on the run to force us to pass. It worked in a sense that they won, but they didn't slow down the offense. I expect the same from Wisconsin.

I only wish Wisconsin players were looking ahead to Nebraska like the fans are. If you stop by on the Badger message board on scout, there is hardly ANY chatter about the game. Someone on there made a good point the other day, Big 10 fans do not distinguish between MAC teams NIU = WMU = CMU = Ball State. They do not differentiate between MAC teams, we would offer the same challenge to them as any other team. NIU probably won't win Saturday but I do think this game will cause Badger fans to take notice of NIU. There will be at least one point in the game (which I predict the opening drive), that a bit of a scare runs through their fans.