The Badgers’ dominance in the series, winning seven straight, has been tied to their running game.
In those seven wins, they have averaged 223.7 rushing yards. But just as important as the yardage has been their commitment to the run. UW averaged 46.9 rushing attempts and the only game it had less than 44 was the 38-34 win in Minneapolis in 2005.
That also was the last time the Gophers outrushed UW (411 yards to 131). The Badgers stole that game with a blocked punt they recovered for a touchdown in the final 30 seconds.
The Gophers are tied for 10th in the Big Ten in run defense (191.1 yards per game) and surrendered 346 rushing yards in a 41-14 loss to Nebraska on Oct. 22. Minnesota’s run defense was much better in its 31-24 loss to Michigan State last week, allowing 106 yards on 28 carries, but the Spartans threw for 296 yards.
It’s the same issue against the Badgers: How many players can be devoted to stopping the run against an offense led by QB Russell Wilson, who tops the conference in passing (248.7 yards per game)?
“When you’re preparing for the run, you’ve got to get more people in the box than they’ve got,” Gophers coach Jerry Kill said. “But you’ve got to be able to defend the pass and that hurt us (last week). We got caught looking in the backfield and they hit a big play.”
Former UW defensive back Kim Royston, who transferred before the 2008 season, was granted a sixth year after suffering a broken leg in spring 2010. The safety leads the defense with 84 tackles and had a career-high 16 stops in a 22-21 upset of Iowa on Oct. 29. He will be a key in helping slow UW’s running game.
When the Gophers have the ball
After completing 64.7 percent of his passes and leading his first fourth-quarter comeback win against Iowa on Oct. 29, QB MarQueis Gray had a career day at Michigan State last week. He went 19-for-32 for 295 yards and three touchdowns — career highs in each category — and added 71 rushing yards.
“I think at the end of the game, the kid was physically exhausted,” Kill said. “He gave everything he had — but that’s how you learn.”
