Josh Kelly, Senior Sports Editor – Wisconsin 30, Nebraska 20

What some were initially calling the Big Ten West Championship game is now more of an elimination game for the division. With new coaches on each side in Mike Riley and Paul Chryst, Nebraska and Wisconsin are still trying to discover their identity.

Both teams are coming off of losses you wouldn’t expect at the beginning of the season, with undefeated Iowa defeating Wisconsin and a subpar Illinois team beating Nebraska at home.

One thing is for certain, and that is the fact that these two teams won’t be doing anything special this season. There’s always bragging rights, though.

It’s supposed to be sunny with a little bit of wind on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, so passing the ball will be a lot easier for Tommy Armstrong Jr. But what Nebraska needs to do is give Devine Ozigbo more carries, as he averaged 10 yards per carry against Illinois.

While Nebraska has been able to score at home, Wisconsin’s defense is averaging 9.6 points allowed per game.

On the other side of the ball, Joel Stave will be able to get a few big passes to put the Badgers ahead early. The Huskers play catch up but fall short.

Brett Nierengarten, Online Sports Editor – Wisconsin 31, Nebraska 10

How did we get here?

Just six weeks ago this game looked like it would be for control of the Big Ten West. Now, it’s between a 3-2 Wisconsin team and a 2-3 Nebraska team.

I think in this one, knowing how to win crucial games prevails, and yes, this game is crucial for both teams because the loser could find itself below .500 this season.

Wisconsin’s defense allowed only 10 points against Iowa and, outside of the Alabama game in week one, that unit has been very good. Its struggling offense should be able to score enough points against a Nebraska defense, which has been well below average this year.

Joel Stave is completing 63.6 percent of his passes and is averaging more than 200 yards through the air per game. Stave, who is having the best season of his college career, should be able to take advantage of Nebraska’s secondary and put up a lot more points than he did against Iowa.

Nick Wilkinson, Print Sports Editor – Wisconsin 24, Nebraska 17

Nebraska fans are tired of the roller coaster feeling of the 2015 season, and so is Mike Riley.

After an embarrassing defeat in Champaign, Illinois, to the Fighting Illini, 14-13, the seats are hot in the Nebraska coaching staff offices. Riley and company made a mistake late in the game, which led to an Illinois touchdown. Things need to change if the Huskers plan on receiving a bowl game invitation. Things need to change now.

Wisconsin, aside from obvious wins against Troy, Hawaii and Miami (OH), has been walking on nails in the lead-up to the game this Saturday. Just like Nebraska. With high expectations for quarterback Joel Stave and running back Corey Clement, their season started off sour with a 35-17 spanking from Alabama.

Yes, it’s Alabama. But what happened last Saturday against the Hawkeyes?

For premier programs like Wisconsin and Nebraska, holding your opponent to two touchdowns or fewer should result in a victory. There is a scoring drought occurring right now for the two teams, as their first year coaches can’t seem to gel with their new homes.

Wisconsin doesn’t have Melvin Gordon anymore, but they always seem to shine against Nebraska. Both teams need a big win against a big team. This weekend is the prime opportunity to get one. Wisconsin always seems to have the upper hand, and things in Huskerland will only get worse before they get better. Wisconsin will maintain the Freedom trophy for another year, as they leave Lincoln with a 24-17 victory.

Vanessa Daves, Football Beat Writer – Wisconsin 17, Nebraska 14

Everything about this season is up in the air.

Everyone expected a win against Illinois — a close win but a win nonetheless.

A blowout was expected against Southern Mississippi, but in the second half, things really started falling apart for the Huskers.

It’s been a mediocre season, and a loss against Wisconsin is inevitable. The Badgers are 3-2, but the way they’ve played shows more consistency than the Huskers. They lost their season opener against Alabama, and they lost to Iowa 10-6.

The other teams Wisconsin has played are kind of, uh, random — Miami (OH) Redhawks, Troy Trojans and Hawaii Rainbod Warriors — but they’ve blown them all out of the water. Nebraska hasn’t done that to a single opponent yet.

There are still some questions up in the air about Nebraska: What’s the offense going to look like? Will Langsdorf and Riley pick a key running back? Will the secondary be ready to handle those deep passes? Is quarterback Tommy Armstrong going to be able to make decisions under pressure?

Adjustments need to be made, but even then, Nebraska has an uphill battle for the rest of the season. That starts with Wisconsin.

Michael Dixon, Football Beat Writer – Wisconsin 28, Nebraska 17

If 2-3 sounds bad, how about 2-4?

That’s the unfortunate reality for the Huskers because this year won’t get any easier.

Now, Wisconsin comes to town. And even if the Badgers only lost a 10-6 barn burner at home against Iowa, they’re still a very difficult draw.

Mistake-prone Joel Stave has as much of an ability as anyone to torch the Nebraska defense, and if the Huskers can’t make adjustments, it might be a long afternoon at Memorial Stadium.

On the flip side, this game could be exactly what Nebraska needs to turn 2015 around. A win against pesky Wisconsin could do wonders for a team that’s still very much in the hunt for the Big Ten West. If the Huskers can figure out what to do at running back, and Tommy Armstrong recovers from an abysmal afternoon in Champaign, they’ve got a shot to win.

But it’ll be tough, and Wisconsin should be favored comfortably. Unless the Huskers can magically turn the corner, they’ll have a rough go on Saturday. Look for Wisconsin to take an early lead, and though Nebraska will keep it fairly close, it will be two games under .500 heading to Minneapolis.

[email protected]