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Wisconsin Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. Maryland in Week 8

By Connor Muldowney

MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 14: Jonathan Taylor #23 and Danny Davis III #6 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrate after Taylor scored a touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers in the first quarter at Camp Randall Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 14: Jonathan Taylor #23 and Danny Davis III #6 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrate after Taylor scored a touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers in the first quarter at Camp Randall Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Wisconsin football will host Maryland in Week 8 and here’s everything you need to know about the matchup. Can the Badgers improve to 7-0?

Could this be the year Wisconsin football makes a serious run at the College Football Playoff? Paul Chryst has the Badgers playing at a high level and they’re ranked No. 5 in the country with a 6-0 record. However, playing in the mediocre Big Ten West might have playoff voters shy to pull the trigger, but if the Badgers won the Big Ten title, that would change.

Alex Hornibrook has been one of the most improved players in the conference. He’s passed for 1,210 yards and 11 touchdowns with six picks and a 65 percent completion rate. He’s been a big part of this hot start. Moreover, freshman running back Jonathan Taylor has been the star of the offense through six games. He’s rushed for an astounding 986 yards and 10 touchdowns on 7.8 yards per touch.

Oh yeah, and this Wisconsin defense is one of the best in the land, ranked No. 6 in total yards per game in college football.

Maryland, on the other hand, has had a nightmarish season through seven weeks. No, the Terrapins aren’t 0-6, but there are other contributing factors to this horrid 2017 campaign. D.J. Durkin has had to replace two starting quarterbacks (Tyrrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill) due to season-ending injuries and third-string gunslinger Max Bortenschlager was banged up in the last game.

The Terrapins began the season red-hot with a win over Texas on the road and a blowout victory over Towson, but they have since lost three of their last four. The bright spots on this team so far have been star wide out D.J. More who has over 600 receiving yards and running back Ty Johnson who’s averaging 7.2 yards per carry on the year.

Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s Wisconsin vs. Maryland game:

Date: Saturday, Oct. 21
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Madison, Wisc.
Venue: Camp Randall Stadium
TV: FOX
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go

Keys to Victory

Wisconsin is going to need to lean on its star freshman running back again. Taylor has been a star for the Badgers this season and that needs to continue against Maryland’s lackluster run defense. In fact, the Terrapins rank 83rd in college football against the run, so that needs to be a priority for this offense. Defensively, slowing down Johnson will be important. In the three games he’s rushed for under 100 yards this season, Maryland is 0-3.

Conversely, the Terrapins need to feed that two-headed monster of Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison III. The latter hasn’t had the best sophomore season, but this is an opportunity for him to gain some confidence against one of college football’s top run defenses. Max Bortenschlager, if healthy, won’t be able to beat the Badgers through the air, so it’ll be up to the run game. Also, holding Taylor under 100 yards rushing would be part of a winning formula.

Next: 25 Bold Predictions for the Top 25 - Week 8

Prediction

Jonathan Taylor is going to have yet another monster performance on Saturday as the Badgers will have no issue taking it to the Terrapins at Camp Randall. He will rush for another 150 yards and two scores while Alex Hornibrook will continue his consistent season through the air. Max Bortenschlager, on the other hand, won’t be fully healthy, and it will show. Offense will be tough to come by for the Terrapins.

Final Score: Maryland 13, Wisconsin 34

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