Wisconsin at #6 Michigan

Week 4– Saturday, 12:00 pm EST - ESPN

The sixth-ranked Wolverines look to continue building momentum when they host Wisconsin on Saturday in a match up of unbeaten Big Ten teams.

''We have an outstanding opponent,'' Head coach Lloyd Carr said. ''You have to be able to handle all of the hype that goes with being up there in the rankings, and some can handle it and some can't. That will be our challenge here. I think our players understand that. They know what Wisconsin will bring in here on Saturday.''

The Wolverines (3-0) moved up five spots in the Top 25 with a 47-21 win at Notre Dame last Saturday. The win was keyed by a dominant defensive effort and the emergence of sophomore receiver Mario Manningham who had a career-high three touchdown receptions to help the Wolverines take a 34-14 halftime lead, and finished with four catches for 137 yards.

Michigan is a 14 point home favorite at SBG Global.

This season, the Badgers (3-0) are holding opponents to 220.7 yards and 8.0 points per game. That defense's best performance of the season came last week in a 14-0 win over San Diego State. Wisconsin has not allowed a touchdown to the opposing offense in nine consecutive quarters. The Michigan defense has been just as good. Michigan has allowed 20.7 rushing yards per game and 1.0 per carry.

The Badgers offense was led last Saturday by P.J. Hill Jr., who ran for 184 yards and a score on 26 carries. ''Every game is going to have somebody that's favored and somebody who's the underdog,'' said Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema. ''If we're the underdog this week, it's probably a new position for us, but it's not going to change up the approach we have as a coaching staff or the preparation we have.'' Wisconsin quarterback John Stocco, who threw for 2,920 yards and 21 TD’s last season, has not needed to do much this year with Hill and the stout defense.

Michigan offensive tackle Rueben Riley said the team wants revenge from last year’s loss to Wisconsin and won’t be looking past the Badgers. ''We don't need anymore motivation than that,'' Riley said. ''That's it. I think our team is very mature. We are ready to get better. That was a great win (over Notre Dame) and it is over now. We demand that of ourselves.''

Asking Michigan to cover two touchdowns may be too much to ask, so we’ll take Wisconsin plus the points.

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