Mistakes Unravel Wisconsin's Chances Against Ohio State

Multiple mental mistakes in football are a killer. They are the missed free-throws of the game, failing to advance runners in scoring position, failure to convert power plays of football.  Mental mistakes eat at a player like a monster thriving for flesh. There are many Wisconsin players feeling the effects of the mental mistake monster on Sunday as they probably said 'Well if this does not happen, a win over the Buckeyes is ours.' Although it did not happen that way as Ohio State defeat Wisconsin 31-24 in an eye-opening game for many parties in the Big Ten.

The Badgers made too many mistakes to win the football game. That is a simple way to put why a team lost the football game, I probably should rename myself John Madden, but it is accurate. Not many teams can beat a top five team on the road with that many errors. The Badgers racked up eight penalties and while the yardage was not significant (Only 54 yards), they made errors at the wrong time. Two of the penalties caused Wisconsin to miss out on multiple turnovers and the first half would have entirely different if it did not happen that way. 

Not every road game will be like the Horseshoe but it is evident the crowd rattled some players on the Wisconsin roster. If the Badgers want to make a leap this season, cutting down on these sort of errors would be substantial. Say what you will about Bret Bielema, but he did a great job at keeping the Badgers from having any penalties. Head coach Gary Andersen needs to firm things up all around if Wisconsin wants to play a high-profile bowl game.

Melvin Gordon has been the talk of the college football world. The diehards from across America are tuning in to watch the Kenosha running back hit a few football home runs. Gordon still had 74 yards on Saturday, but nowhere near close to the season's average. Gordon did sit out the entire forurth quarter with a knee injury. All of that being said, Gordon did not look like the difference maker like the first three weeks of the season. Ohio State made it a plan to focus on the run and it showed in a major way. Ohio State's head coach Urban Meyer has brought SEC speed to the Big Ten and it starts at their defense front. 

Ohio State lost six of their front seven to graduation and the NFL Draft last year. With the way they held the Badgers rushing attack in check, you would think they had a fully loaded front seven. The closing speed Ohio State showed on Saturday will be something Wisconsin should not see again unless they play an SEC school in a bowl game. Clay Travis of Outkick The Coverage has said Ohio State would be a lower-tier SEC team and I disagree wholeheartedly. Ohio State has the speed on defense to compete with anyone in football, and it might be what keeps them unbeaten in the B1G.  

There were some bright spots for the Badgers on Saturday. Joel Stave played great if we take out a senseless interception. Stave looked like a legitimate college quarterback and to think, he threw for 295 yards when only really having one receiver. Jared Abbrederis is one of the best wide receivers in college football. He made some great plays and exposed All-American Bradley Roby throughout the football game. The combination of Stave-Abbrederis will only get better in the coming weeks and add their running attack, Wisconsin could be lethal.

Wisconsin-Ohio State did tell us about the Big Ten. There is not that big of a gap between the top tier teams in the conference. The Badgers take the week off while Ohio State heads to Northwestern for probably the biggest game in Wildcat football in the last 15 years. It should be another fun B1G season.  

Charlie.