Wisconsin 25 - 27 1Michigan
Final
  for this game

Wisconsin opens Big Ten schedule at struggling Michigan

Sep 27, 2008 - 10:07 AM (8) Wisconsin (3-0) at Michigan (1-2), 3:00 pm EDT

ANN ARBOR, Michigan (Ticker) -- Following a successful trip to the West Coast two weeks ago, Wisconsin now will be looking to add to Michigan's woes.

Trying to build on a 13-10 win at Fresno State, the eighth-ranked Badgers visit the "Big House" this week in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams.

On September 13, P.J. Hill rushed for 112 yards for Wisconsin, which repeatedly turned back Fresno State in the second half to escape with an impressive victory in what the Bulldogs were billing as the biggest game in school history.

Coupled with Ohio State's 35-3 loss at top-ranked Southern California, Wisconsin now may be the Big Ten's best hope to reach the BCS championship game. Ohio State followed up its loss to USC with an uninspired 27-10 win over Troy.

"To be undefeated going into Big Ten play is huge," Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said.

Michigan has much more modest goals, as the Wolverines are trying to avoid their first 1-3 start since 1967, when they posted their last losing season. They opened that year 1-5 en route to a 4-6 finish under coach Chalmers "Bump" Elliott.

Michigan's transition under new coach Rich Rodriguez has been a rough one, and the problems continued in a 35-17 loss at Notre Dame on September 13.

Sam McGuffie, who has carried at least 25 times in all three games this season, looked good while rushing for 138 yards against the Irish. But the Wolverines couldn't hold onto the ball; they committed six turnovers - two shy of a school record - and virtually gift-wrapped a victory for Notre Dame.

"Things didn't go the way we exactly wanted," Rodriguez said. "Now we need to step back and still focus on the fundamentals. We made some big steps (against Notre Dame). But turnovers were the big killers."

Michigan was hammered at Wisconsin, 37-21, last season, snapping an eight-game winning streak for the Wolverines, who had rebounded from an 0-2 start.

Hill, who is aiming for his third straight 1,000-yard season, has more rushing yards than the entire Michigan team (379-373).

In 2006, Hill was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, but one of his worst games that season came in a 27-13 loss at Michigan, when he was held to 54 yards on 20 carries.






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