Hawaii Rainbows
November 25, 2000
Let's see how Badgermaniac's Keys to the Game turned out.
1.) Hawaii Red Zone Offense vs. Wisconsin's Red Zone Defense
One TD was the result of a punt snafu and the defensive backfield did get beat deep once, but generally the defense hung in there and kept the points off the board.
2.) Dominating the Rainbow front 7
Wisconsin did what they wanted when they wanted for the most part due to the dominance up front.
3.) Smart QB play
Bollinger threw an early pick, but by all reports threw the ball pretty well and didn't give the Bows and big plays. Sorgi made a bad force, but the game was for the most part decided. Again, not perfect, but adequate.
4.) Focus
A lot of penalties which may indicate a lack of focus, but they did take of business. It wasn't a thing of beauty so I don't know that the focus was great, but the effort appeared very workmanlike.
PREDICTION:
Wisconsin's offense only stopped themselves. And, while the game was fairly close longer than I thought it would be, the final result wasn't too far off from what I expected.
Here are Badgermaniac's Keys to the Game:
1.) Hawaii Red Zone Offense vs. Wisconsin's Red Zone Defense
Hawaii has shown they can move the ball through the air (goodness knows they are going to throw the ball enough), while Wisconsin has been prone to surrendering yardage. However, Wisconsin has been quite stingy in terms of surrendering points. Hawaii can get their 300 or so passing yards if need be, but as long as the yards don't convert to points, the Badgers will be in great shape.
2.) Dominating the Rainbow front 7
Wisconsin, despite their pretty good rushing numbers, has not dominated many teams up front. Hawaii however, is a team that should allow for this. The last few weeks, the OL has started to develop some consistency, and hopefully the two week preparation has gotten them ready to dominate.
3.) Smart QB play
Look for Bollinger AND Sorgi to see some time. Both should have their way with a bad Rainbow defense, but the key is making the solid consistent plays. We don't need anything fancy, just move the ball and don't give Hawaii life.
4.) Focus
This is it for Hawaii this year. They have nothing left to play for and should be fired up early. They also have been playing better as of late. On the other hand, Wisconsin has nothing to play for, as they have already accepted their bowl bid. We also know that Hawaii (the islands) can be a distraction in and of themselves. Bring the lunchpails and take care of business is the order of the day.
PREDICTION:
I see the Wisconsin offense exploding in this game. They have had two weeks to get Bennett and Bollinger healthy, while on the other side of the ball, Doering and Favret should be as strong as they have been in weeks. Look for Wisconsin to try to establish the run early and cakewalk to a 42-21 win.
Sagarin gives Wisconsin a 24 point edge on paper, while Howell has Wisconsin as a 20.5 point favorite with an 81% chance of winning. Projected score of 36-15.
Here is how the two teams rank in terms of NCAA stats:
Rushing Offense: WIS 25, HAW 107
Passing Offense: WIS 95, HAW 6
Total Offense: WIS 69, HAW 42
Scoring Offense: WIS 63, HAW 68
Rushing Defense: WIS 72, HAW 87
Pass Effic. Defense: WIS 31, HAW 86
Total Defense: WIS 78, HAW 73
Scoring Defense: WIS 33, HAW 99
Turnover Margin: WIS 25, HAW 100
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