AuburnSports.com - Wisconsin keys to victory and HOL predictions

December 1, 2012

In my opinion, Nebraska is clearly the better team in this match-up. The question is, do the Huskers have the mental fortitude to finally get over the hump and clinch a conference championship clearly there for the taking? As always, limiting the penalties and turnovers will be biggest key for NU, but also being able to put the game away in the fourth quarter or make the big play when they have to. In the end, I see Nebraska hanging another banner when all is said and done.

Nebraska 31 Wisconsin 27
Alabama 28 Georgia 27
Florida State 35 Georgia Tech 20
Kansas State 42 Texas 28
Oklahoma 38 TCU 31

Season: 39-20
vs. the spread: 33-26

One team thrives in close games while the other withers. The loss of Baker Steinkuhler is really going to hurt defending the Wisconsin running game, but the NU secondary will eliminate Curt Phillips and make the Badgers one-dimensional. On offense, the Huskers don't have to deal with adverse weather conditions and return to their high-scoring ways.

Nebraska 31 Wisconsin 24
Alabama 31 Georgia 21
Florida State 42 Georgia Tech 28
Kansas State 28 Texas 24
Oklahoma 24 TCU 20

Season: 43-16
vs. the spread: 35-24

The Huskers are rolling and they have won games in every way possible, the Badgers are the opposite they seem to find new ways to lose each week dropping 5 games by a total of 19 points including 3 in OT. Playing indoors is such a huge help for the Huskers and as good as Borland and Taylor are for UW's defense I don't see Nebraska getting stopped. Huskers end a 13-year championship drought and beat Wisconsin 34-28.

Nebraska 34 Wisconsin 28
Alabama 17 Georgia 13
Florida State 31 Georgia Tech 10
Kansas State 35 Texas 27
Oklahoma 27 TCU 20

Season: 37-22
vs. the spread: 29-30

The lost of Baker really concerns me against the Badgers' physical run game. Justin Jackson has been a huge asset to Nebraska's run game, his loss combined with very little quality depth at defensive tackle cause me to pick a close Wisconsin victory. I also expect NU to continue to fumble away possessions.

Wisconsin 27 Nebraska 23
Alabama 31Georgia 24
Florida State 42 Georgia Tech 17
Kansas State 31 Texas 27
Oklahoma 24 TCU 17

Season: 37-22
vs. the spread: 32-27

INDIANAPOLIS - Championship Saturday is finally here for Nebraska. The Huskers will try to take home their first conference championship since 1999 tonight in Lucas Oil Stadium when they take on Wisconsin.

As things get closer to kickoff, here are tonight's keys to victory for the Huskers over the Badgers. NU enters tonight's game as a 3 point favorite over Wisconsin.

Don't dig a hole

All season Nebraska has put themselves in tough situations, but they've been able to find ways out of them to make it tonight's Big Ten Championship game.

Even in their last meeting with Wisconsin the Huskers found themselves down 27-10 in the second half before scoring 20 unanswered points to pull off the victory.

It's unrealistic to think that Nebraska can continue to dig big holes and get out of them. They need to come out swinging right away tonight and not get down early.

Limit Ball's downhill runs

Wisconsin is probably going to want to run the ball at least 65 to 70 percent of the time tonight. In their perfect world running back Montee Ball would have 25 to 30 carries tonight for over 150 yards, helping their offense control the tempo of the game.

The key for Nebraska's defense will be to dominate up front and not let Ball get downhill on his runs. In the second half of the game earlier this year the Huskers did an outstanding job in slowing down Ball and limiting him to 31 yards on 15 carries.

Without Baker Steinkuhler playing in the middle, expect the Badgers to test the Huskers interior line early and often.

Force Phillips into passing downs

Wisconsin's Curt Phillips is the third different Badger to start at quarterback this season. Over his career Phillips has had three different ACL knee surgeries. Before the surgeries he was an explosive dual-threat quarterback. He can still run when he wants to, but by no means is he Braxton Miller.

The biggest difference between Phillips and former starter Joel Stave is arm strength. On the season Phillips has just three passes of 20 yards or longer and none of them have gone to wide receivers. Phillips doesn't have the arm strength to beat you deep like Stave, and that's something I'm sure Bo Pelini and his defensive staff have taken note of.

Be ready for the play action

If Ball is able to get running early, Nebraska's defense needs to be prepared for the play action pass from Phillips.

In the first meeting earlier this season Stave was able to hurt Nebraska's defense with the play action, but only because NU's safeties got caught cheating the run. Phillips is not Stave in terms of arm strength, but you still have to be ready for him to try to slip one over the top.

Wear the Badger defense down

I thought the reason why Nebraska was able to win that first game in Lincoln was they really wore down Wisconsin's defense.

The Badgers don't substitute very much, and they play their linebackers nearly the entire game. If the Huskers can get some up-tempo drives going they have the ability to tire down this Badger defense.

Look for running back Rex Burkhead to pound Wisconsin tonight, while Ameer Abdullah and Braylon Heard will serve as change of pace backs to keep Wisconsin off-balanced.

Callahan's weekly predictions

This is a program defining moment for Nebraska to capture their first conference championship since 1999. The players and coaches very much know what's in front of them tonight in Indianapolis. I expect Wisconsin's running offense to give Nebraska problems early, but the Huskers will adjust and finally get that conference championship that's eluded them their previous three tries.

Nebraska 31 Wisconsin 23
Alabama 27 Georgia 21
Florida State 44 Georgia Tech 24
Kansas State 40 Texas 27
Oklahoma 27 TCU 24

Season Record: 43-16 overall; 41-18 vs. points