Northwestern Wildcats face the Wisconsin Badgers following a 37-10 victory over the Maryland Terrapins, aiming to continue their winning streak.
Northwestern is predicted to lose by 6.5 points in this game against the Badgers, however, they have managed to secure victories at home over the past few years.
Here are three Wildcats to keep an eye on during this match.
Jack Lausch
Remains the same as stated in my previous Badgers preview article, quarterback Jack Lausch possesses greater mobility compared to most of the quarterbacks Wisconsin has encountered this season (excluding Jalen Milroe, of course).
Lausch performed well throwing the ball in the game versus Indiana at home, scoring two touchdowns, and also showed strong running skills last week at Maryland, where he scored the game’s opening touchdown with a 9-yard run.
Wisconsin should restrict his running capabilities and be cautious of deep passes to receivers like Bryce Kirtz or AJ Henning.
Bryce Kirtz
Bryce Kirtz epitomizes a deep threat. He had just three receptions in the game against Maryland last week. He accumulated 123 receiving yards and had an average of 41 yards per catch. Kirtz stood out to me while watching the Indiana game as he continuously sliced through their defensive backs and helped the Wildcats stay competitive until the end of the 4th quarter. I’m not implying that Indiana’s defense is identical to Wisconsin’s, but it’s still crucial to keep an eye on.
The key for this Wisconsin defense, especially with players such as Hunter Wohler, Preston Zachman, and Ricardo Hallman, is to control him in order to diminish Northwestern’s aerial offense. Kirtz is not the sole standout receiver on the team; AJ Henning, whom I previously referenced, has also been consistent, but he is undoubtedly the most lethal.
Aidan Hubbard
Aidan Hubbard, a defensive lineman, is the team’s top performer this season with three sacks. He has gotten a sack in every game he has played in so far this year. Hubbard will face a Badgers offensive line that has not given up a sack in a while, yet still poses a challenge for him.
In this matchup, Hubbard will need to also focus on containing Wisconsin’s running game. In their past two games, Wisconsin has gained over 225 yards on the ground and will keep running the ball in this upcoming match. Hubbard played a crucial role in NW’s matches versus Maryland and Washington, and I anticipate he will also be a significant contributor on defense in this game.
Northwestern faces a tough challenge against Wisconsin, but could create an impact if three players perform effectively.
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