Badger of Honor
Fansided

Inside the Game: Wisconsin Utah State

By Noah Seligman

MADISON, WI - NOVEMBER 26: Corey Clement
MADISON, WI - NOVEMBER 26: Corey Clement /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
COLLEGE STATION, TX – OCTOBER 08: An official reaches for a penalty flag on the field during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Texas A
COLLEGE STATION, TX – OCTOBER 08: An official reaches for a penalty flag on the field during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Texas A /

Playing a clean game by avoiding penalties helps field position and avoid an upset

Wisconsin football generally does a good job of avoiding penalties.  For example, in 2016 the Badgers had just 48 penalties in 14 games.  That was the second fewest penalties in the Big Ten behind the Northwestern Wildcats.  Northwestern had 47 penalties in 13 games.  Thus, Wisconsin had a lower penalty-per-game average though the Wildcats had fewer penalty yards-per-game on average.

The first game of the year can see more penalties called as team’s adjust to live-game action.  That said, in 2016, Wisconsin had only five penalties for 55 yards allowed against LSU in last season’s kickoff game.  In 2015, Wisconsin again had just five penalties for 50 yards allowed in a season opening loss to Alabama.

However, as the big favorite, penalties are one of the areas that can help the underdog.  Its important the Badgers play a clean game and not give the Utah State Aggies any extra help.   Winning field position is always important for Wisconsin on both sides of the football.

Of course, the home crowd may help out a bit and cause a few problems for Utah State especially before the snap.