I'd like to get some input on this game from Big 10 experts, fans of the teams, or anybody who can add anything of value.
I see a line of Wisconsin -1.5 @ Canbet. Interesting line in my opinion. Sorgi is expected to play. Here is some reading material on the matchup:
Wisconsin-Purdue pregame notes
Jonathan Linder - BadgerNation.com
October 14, 2003 at 2:14am ET
Wisconsin hosts Purdue at 11:01 a.m. (CDT)
What: Wisconsin (3-0 Big Ten, 6-1 overall) v. Purdue (2-0, 5-1)
When: Saturday, Oct. 18, 11:01 a.m. CDT
Site: Camp Randall Stadium (76,634) in Madison, Wis.
Broadcasts: ESPN live TV coverage; 43-city Wisconsin Radio Network, live radio coverage.
Wisconsin results to date
Home team in italics (links to UWBadgers.com game stories)
Aug. 30-Wisconsin 24, West Virginia 17
Sept. 6-Wisconsin 48, Akron 31
Sept. 13-UNLV 23, Wisconsin 5
Sept. 20-Wisconsin 38, North Carolina 27
Sept. 27-Wisconsin 38, Illinois 20
Oct. 4-Wisconsin 30, Penn State 23
Oct. 11-Wisconsin 17, Ohio State 10
Wisconsin cumulative statistics
Purdue results to date
Home team in italics (links to Purduesports.com game stories)
Sept. 6-Bowling Green 27, Purdue 26
Sept. 13-Purdue 16, Wake Forest 10
Sept. 20-Purdue 59 , Arizona 7
Sept. 27-Purdue 23 , Notre Dame 10
Oct. 4-Purdue 43 , Illinois 10
Oct. 11-Purdue 28, Penn State 14
Purdue cumulative statistics
Boilermakers versus Wisconsin: The Badgers lead the all-time series 36-28-8. The last three meetings from 1998-2000, featured high drama. Wisconsin fell, 30-24, in overtime, two seasons ago. During the Rose Bowl campaigns of '98 and '99, however, Wisconsin withstood passing barrages from Drew Brees and benefited from Jamar Fletcher interception returns for touchdown, winning 31-24 and 28-21, respectively.
2000 USA Today game story
1999 USA Today game story
1998 USA Today game story
2003 pregame notes
The winner of the past three Wisconsin-Purdue games has wound up in the Rose Bowl.
Under coach Barry Alvarez Wisconsin is 52-18-2 in the six seasons in which the team has beaten or tied Purdue. In the four seasons that included a loss to Purdue, the Badgers are 26-20-2.
For the second consecutive week Wisconsin faces one of the nation's top run defenses. The Badgers ran for 141 yards against Ohio State, which entered and exited Saturday's game with the NCAA's top-ranked run defense. Purdue ranks second in the country, allowing a paltry 60.8 yards per game, and just 2.1 yards per carry. Wisconsin averages 210.9 rushing yards per game, second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally.
Purdue is averaging 190.3 yards rushing per game, while Wisconsin is allowing just 100.9.
The Badgers have out-gained opponents 227.3 to 59.3 on the ground in their three Big Ten contests.
Wisconsin is 4-0 for only the second time in the Alvarez era. The first was 1998.
In 1998 the team started 7-0, its best start under Alvarez. Other 6-1 starts occurred in 1993 and 1997.
Wisconsin has not been ranked as high as No. 12 in either poll since holding a No. 7 AP ranking in Sept. 2000.
Purdue (No. 13 AP) is enjoying its highest ranking since it was No. 13 at the end of the 2000 season.
The Badgers have not earned victories against top-15 teams in back-to-back weekends since defeating No. 11 Rice , 13-7, and No. 5 Purdue, 20-6, On Oct. 9 and Oct. 16, 1954.
Wisconsin is 4-1 versus Purdue when both teams are ranked.
Wisconsin tailbacks Dwayne Smith , Anthony Davis and Booker Stanley have run for 466, 460 and 454 yards this season, respectively.
Purdue also trusts three runners-Jared Void (385 yards, six touchdowns), Jerome Brooks (310, two) and Brandon Jones (239, three).
Purdue leads the Big Ten in average time of possession at 34:33.
Wisconsin receiver Lee Evans will not be the only career receiving leader on the field Saturday. Evans is the Badgers school record holder with 142 receptions, 2,851 receiving yards and a 32-game consecutive reception streak. Purdue receiver John Standeford is the school's all-time leader in receptions (217) and receiving yards (3,086). He is also third all-time with a current 27-game reception streak. Teammate Taylor Stubblefield is second on that list with a 28-game streak. Stubblefield is also third on Purdue's all-time receptions list (188) and eighth in career yards (2,045).
Last season Wisconsin converted just 35.3 percent of its third downs and allowed opponents to convert on 39.5 percent of theirs. This season Wisconsin is converting 44 percent of its third downs and allowing opponents a meager 32 percent conversion rate. Wisconsin's best mark defensively in the Alvarez era is 33 percent, set in 1999, which is also the last year the team fared better than 40 percent offensively.
Purdue leads the Big Ten in third-down conversion defense at 25.8 percent and is converting 43 percent of its opportunities. On third down this season, quarterback Kyle Orton is 35 of 64 for 318 yards and 22 first downs.
Orton has only thrown two interceptions in his last 247 attempts, dating back to last season.
The Boilermakers have caused 15 turnovers in six games (11 interception, four fumbles) and hold a plus nine turnover ratio. Last season, Purdue was minus 10 in the turnover department.
Purdue leads the Big Ten in scoring defense (13.0 points per game) and total defense (261.0 yards per game).
Purdue has outscored opponents 54-3 in the first quarter and 54-17 in the fourth quarter this season.
Wisconsin has outscored opponents 59-33 in the first quarter and 62-28 in the fourth quarter this season.
Purdue has scored on its opening drive in all six games this season-five touchdowns, one field goal. The Boilermakers have also scored on their first drive of the second half three times.
A win Saturday would make Purdue Bowl-eligible for the seventh consecutive season. Michigan is the only other Big Ten team that can match the Boilermakers' six straight Bowl appearances.
The Badgers are 53-4 in the Alvarez era when rushing 50 or more times.
In three games in which Wisconsin has attempted 20 or fewer passes, the team has completed 61.9 percent of its throws. In the other four contests, the Badgers have completed 48.7 percent.
Purdue secondary coach Phil Elmassian performed the same duties for Wisconsin from 1997-99.
Wisconsin safety Jim Leonhard leads the Big Ten with four interceptions
Badger defensive tackle Anttaj Hawthorne leads the Big Ten with 10.5 tackles for loss.
Purdue's Anthony Chambers is the reigning Big Ten special teams player of the week after tallying 149 punt return yards and a 76-yard punt return for touchdown against Penn State. Wisconsin allowed one yard on three punt returns against Ohio State and only 27 kick return yards on two attempts.
Updated on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 3:14 am EDT
I see a line of Wisconsin -1.5 @ Canbet. Interesting line in my opinion. Sorgi is expected to play. Here is some reading material on the matchup:
Wisconsin-Purdue pregame notes
Jonathan Linder - BadgerNation.com
October 14, 2003 at 2:14am ET
Wisconsin hosts Purdue at 11:01 a.m. (CDT)
What: Wisconsin (3-0 Big Ten, 6-1 overall) v. Purdue (2-0, 5-1)
When: Saturday, Oct. 18, 11:01 a.m. CDT
Site: Camp Randall Stadium (76,634) in Madison, Wis.
Broadcasts: ESPN live TV coverage; 43-city Wisconsin Radio Network, live radio coverage.
Wisconsin results to date
Home team in italics (links to UWBadgers.com game stories)
Aug. 30-Wisconsin 24, West Virginia 17
Sept. 6-Wisconsin 48, Akron 31
Sept. 13-UNLV 23, Wisconsin 5
Sept. 20-Wisconsin 38, North Carolina 27
Sept. 27-Wisconsin 38, Illinois 20
Oct. 4-Wisconsin 30, Penn State 23
Oct. 11-Wisconsin 17, Ohio State 10
Wisconsin cumulative statistics
Purdue results to date
Home team in italics (links to Purduesports.com game stories)
Sept. 6-Bowling Green 27, Purdue 26
Sept. 13-Purdue 16, Wake Forest 10
Sept. 20-Purdue 59 , Arizona 7
Sept. 27-Purdue 23 , Notre Dame 10
Oct. 4-Purdue 43 , Illinois 10
Oct. 11-Purdue 28, Penn State 14
Purdue cumulative statistics
Boilermakers versus Wisconsin: The Badgers lead the all-time series 36-28-8. The last three meetings from 1998-2000, featured high drama. Wisconsin fell, 30-24, in overtime, two seasons ago. During the Rose Bowl campaigns of '98 and '99, however, Wisconsin withstood passing barrages from Drew Brees and benefited from Jamar Fletcher interception returns for touchdown, winning 31-24 and 28-21, respectively.
2000 USA Today game story
1999 USA Today game story
1998 USA Today game story
2003 pregame notes
The winner of the past three Wisconsin-Purdue games has wound up in the Rose Bowl.
Under coach Barry Alvarez Wisconsin is 52-18-2 in the six seasons in which the team has beaten or tied Purdue. In the four seasons that included a loss to Purdue, the Badgers are 26-20-2.
For the second consecutive week Wisconsin faces one of the nation's top run defenses. The Badgers ran for 141 yards against Ohio State, which entered and exited Saturday's game with the NCAA's top-ranked run defense. Purdue ranks second in the country, allowing a paltry 60.8 yards per game, and just 2.1 yards per carry. Wisconsin averages 210.9 rushing yards per game, second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally.
Purdue is averaging 190.3 yards rushing per game, while Wisconsin is allowing just 100.9.
The Badgers have out-gained opponents 227.3 to 59.3 on the ground in their three Big Ten contests.
Wisconsin is 4-0 for only the second time in the Alvarez era. The first was 1998.
In 1998 the team started 7-0, its best start under Alvarez. Other 6-1 starts occurred in 1993 and 1997.
Wisconsin has not been ranked as high as No. 12 in either poll since holding a No. 7 AP ranking in Sept. 2000.
Purdue (No. 13 AP) is enjoying its highest ranking since it was No. 13 at the end of the 2000 season.
The Badgers have not earned victories against top-15 teams in back-to-back weekends since defeating No. 11 Rice , 13-7, and No. 5 Purdue, 20-6, On Oct. 9 and Oct. 16, 1954.
Wisconsin is 4-1 versus Purdue when both teams are ranked.
Wisconsin tailbacks Dwayne Smith , Anthony Davis and Booker Stanley have run for 466, 460 and 454 yards this season, respectively.
Purdue also trusts three runners-Jared Void (385 yards, six touchdowns), Jerome Brooks (310, two) and Brandon Jones (239, three).
Purdue leads the Big Ten in average time of possession at 34:33.
Wisconsin receiver Lee Evans will not be the only career receiving leader on the field Saturday. Evans is the Badgers school record holder with 142 receptions, 2,851 receiving yards and a 32-game consecutive reception streak. Purdue receiver John Standeford is the school's all-time leader in receptions (217) and receiving yards (3,086). He is also third all-time with a current 27-game reception streak. Teammate Taylor Stubblefield is second on that list with a 28-game streak. Stubblefield is also third on Purdue's all-time receptions list (188) and eighth in career yards (2,045).
Last season Wisconsin converted just 35.3 percent of its third downs and allowed opponents to convert on 39.5 percent of theirs. This season Wisconsin is converting 44 percent of its third downs and allowing opponents a meager 32 percent conversion rate. Wisconsin's best mark defensively in the Alvarez era is 33 percent, set in 1999, which is also the last year the team fared better than 40 percent offensively.
Purdue leads the Big Ten in third-down conversion defense at 25.8 percent and is converting 43 percent of its opportunities. On third down this season, quarterback Kyle Orton is 35 of 64 for 318 yards and 22 first downs.
Orton has only thrown two interceptions in his last 247 attempts, dating back to last season.
The Boilermakers have caused 15 turnovers in six games (11 interception, four fumbles) and hold a plus nine turnover ratio. Last season, Purdue was minus 10 in the turnover department.
Purdue leads the Big Ten in scoring defense (13.0 points per game) and total defense (261.0 yards per game).
Purdue has outscored opponents 54-3 in the first quarter and 54-17 in the fourth quarter this season.
Wisconsin has outscored opponents 59-33 in the first quarter and 62-28 in the fourth quarter this season.
Purdue has scored on its opening drive in all six games this season-five touchdowns, one field goal. The Boilermakers have also scored on their first drive of the second half three times.
A win Saturday would make Purdue Bowl-eligible for the seventh consecutive season. Michigan is the only other Big Ten team that can match the Boilermakers' six straight Bowl appearances.
The Badgers are 53-4 in the Alvarez era when rushing 50 or more times.
In three games in which Wisconsin has attempted 20 or fewer passes, the team has completed 61.9 percent of its throws. In the other four contests, the Badgers have completed 48.7 percent.
Purdue secondary coach Phil Elmassian performed the same duties for Wisconsin from 1997-99.
Wisconsin safety Jim Leonhard leads the Big Ten with four interceptions
Badger defensive tackle Anttaj Hawthorne leads the Big Ten with 10.5 tackles for loss.
Purdue's Anthony Chambers is the reigning Big Ten special teams player of the week after tallying 149 punt return yards and a 76-yard punt return for touchdown against Penn State. Wisconsin allowed one yard on three punt returns against Ohio State and only 27 kick return yards on two attempts.
Updated on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 3:14 am EDT
