I would say the keys to a Zips win are:
1.) Woodson can hit open receivers, if he has time to throw. Last week he had plenty of time in the pocket. With all that time, he didn't need to throw to the TE. The deep ball was open all night.
2.) Our WR's are Big10 caliber. Wolf has good size, speed and hands. Lane will be the best WR in the game, regardless of team. And Natson more than passed the eyeball test last week...I can't wait for him to catch a quick slant this season. Bowden needs to have that aggressive "Michigan game" mindset and take some chances deep.
3.) The OL looked pretty good last week. They need to improve this week. They will. They're all older players who simply haven't played together much to-date. If the OL can hold it's own, I think we win the game. Ball + our WR's wilI put up enough points to beat the Badgers.
4.) The loss off Coe and Grice was not offset by Boxen and Copeland. Week #1 was a big drop in interior line play from 2015. Jelani Hamilton, who's barely played football the past 2 years, needs to plug the middle like an all star. If the 6' 5", 300 lb Hamilton can remind us of Coe or Grice, then Marcus and Pittman will make Houston's life miserable. If we are as ineffective in the middle as we were last week, it will be a long day against Wisconsin.
5.) Marcus needs to go "Jason Taylor" in the backfield. He needs a career-defining day if we're to have a chance at a win. He can do it.
6.) O'Leary needs to make his kicks. We can't have missed chip shots and XP's and win this game. Beyond the lost points, the misses absolutely kill the team morale.
7.) We need a #2 linebacker to step up and complement UGIII. Bell was underwhelming last week. Yeah yeah...true soph, in his first start...I know. Bottom line - Bell needs to make an impact this week.
8.) Lastly - Ball needs to be a workhorse. 20+ carries. If he can move the chains on the ground, we eat clock and shorten the game. And, open up Woody/Lane for the deep ball. Ball hits the hole hard. If the OL can give him some running lanes, and that's a big "if" since they didn't provide much running room vs VMI, we really have a great chance to come out of Camp Randall with a "W."
A lot of things need to go our way to get a win, but we have the horses to do it. Signing washed-up 90's bands to perform on Jackson Field is one way to try and increase InfoCision 2016 attendance. But beating #10 Wisconsin would probably be a little better.
Hope Terry brings back that fire-red hair from our program-defining 21-3 loss to Penn State, and amps it up to 11!
To those travelling to Madison this weekend - Have a blast. It's a fun town. Get a few beers at student center and check out the girls sunbathing on the docks by the lake!