What it Means: Wisconsin Dominates Maryland

MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 21: Quintez Cephus (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 21: Quintez Cephus (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Wisconsin football kept the perfect season intact with a dominating 38-13 win over visiting Maryland on Saturday from Camp Randall Stadium.

Wisconsin football continued to do what it does best, especially on defense, en route to rolling to a comfortable win over Maryland.

The Badgers moved to 7-0 on the season with a 4-0 mark in conference play.  As a result, Bucky holds a 2.5 game lead over Nebraska and Northwestern in the Big Ten West.

On Saturday, the start looked a big like the Nebraska game.  Maryland found some early success running the ball out of spread formations.

Then, some pressure up them middle courtesy of Garrett Dooley led to a wobbly pass.  Do everything ILB TJ Edwards snagged it and ran it back for 6.

However, Wisconsin didn’t exactly seize the moment on offense after that.  The next two possessions ended in turnovers.  First, a bad Alex Hornibrook overthrow followed by a Jonathan Taylor fumble.

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But the defense rose to the occasion limiting the Terps to 22 yards on 13 plays and just a single field goal.  The Wisconsin offense opened up after that and scored touchdowns on its next two series to open up a 21-3 lead.

Maryland actually fumbled on a kick return but Rafael Gaglianone missed a 39-yard field goal.

Nonetheless, the teams traded touchdown drives to start the second half leaving Maryland too much work to do.  The Terrapins never got closer than 28-13 as the Badgers scored the final 10 points of the game.

In the end, a fairly comfortable win for the cardinal and white.

Most significantly, Hornibrook rebounded from the interception to go 16/24 for 225 yards and two touchdown passes.  Meanwhile, Troy Fumagalli looks back to fully fit as he caught seven passes for 83 yards.  If that battery is working, the Badger offense becomes uniquely dangerous.

Because the defense still dominates everything in sight.  Despite losing Chris Orr for the day to an arm injury.

So what does it all mean? 

Basically, that the Badgers are doing the job it needs to do to be in the national conversation for the College Football Playoff.  The next two weeks on the road against Illinois (2-5, 0-4), and Indiana (3-4, 0-4) aren’t exactly resume enhancers.

Yet, Penn State (@ The Ohio State, @ Michigan State) has some tough games the next couple weeks.  Should the Nittany Lions stumble, Wisconsin would have the inside track to the Big Ten place in the College Football Playoff.