Darius Taylor and Marcus Major combined for 27 carries and 95 yards against Penn State’s tough run defense last week. The Badgers rank 17th in the Big Ten in rush defense (163.4 yards allowed per game), so the Gophers could have opportunities. Alliegro has three consecutive games of double-digit tackles.
The Gophers’ turnover margin, which ranks second in the Big Ten. Wisconsin’s margin is minus-6, 16th in the conference.
With wind gusts of up to 30 mph, passing might be difficult, so it would behoove the Gophers to get Taylor and Major going against that Badgers run defense. Ball security, as always, is key for Minnesota, which has a plus-15 turnover margin in its wins. On defense, pressuring QB Braedyn Locke and limiting Walker are musts.
Holding Taylor in check in both the run game and short passing game is Wisconsin’s best recipe for victory. The elements could make it difficult to pass downfield, so eliminating Max Brosmer’s safety valve will help. Locke passed for 292 yards and three TDs at Nebraska, so he could be the X factor.
Whichever team scores first will have a big advantage in this game, with the weather likely being a factor. The Gophers are 5-2 when scoring first this season but 1-3 when the opponent scores first. A fast start with Brosmer finding wideouts Daniel Jackson and Elijah Spencer in intermediate routes should open things up for the running game. Punter Mark Crawford will be key for field position purposes, and kicker Dragan Kesich could be a difference-maker with his big left leg.