Love defense? Michigan-Wisconsin will have plenty of it

14-7.

That’s what the scoreboard read last October when Michigan trumped Wisconsin in the Big House. Yards were hard to come by and scoring was impossible. It was a traditional B1G scrum that featured two of the nation’s top defenses.

Part Two is coming to Madison on Saturday, and it’s going to look awfully similar to the game played in Ann Arbor a year ago.

Like last fall, No. 24 Michigan and No. 5 Wisconsin own two of the top defenses in the country. Both coordinators, Don Brown (Michigan) and Jim Leonhard (Wisconsin) have done masterful work this season.

Brown’s defense — which had to overcome the loss of 10 starters — has propelled Michigan to an 8-2 record, despite a lagging and stagnant offense. Leonhard’s unit has been stifling opponents all year and has the Badgers on the precipice of their first College Football Playoff berth.

The top three tackle for loss getters in the B1G — Khaleke Hudson, Chase Winovich and Maurice Hurst — are all Wolverines. Three players on Wisconsin’s roster – Joe Ferguson, T.J. Edwards and Natrell Jamerson — have at least two interceptions and a pick-six.

It’s all going to be on the field inside Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday.

The eye test itself is enough to convince everyone that we’ll see a traditional smash-mouth football game between Michigan and Wisconsin. But just in case you’d like more evidence, the major statistical categories validate that argument. Both defenses rank in the top three in the B1G in every major statistical category, with the Badgers sitting on top in run defense, total defense and scoring defense. The Wolverines own the conference’s top pass defense.

2017 Defensive Stats	Wisconsin (B1G rank)	Michigan (B1G rank)
Run Defense (ypg)	81.5 (1st)	110.3 (3rd)
Pass Defense (ypg)	166.1 (2nd)	144.5 (1st)
Total Defense (ypg)	247.6 (1st)	254.8 (2nd)
Scoring Defense (ppg)	13.4 (1st)	16.4 (3rd)

And, just in case you’re not sure how those numbers stack up across college football, both teams rank in the top 10 nationally in each of the four areas. Only two other schools in college football can say that — No. 1 Alabama and No. 18 Washington.

Both offenses are in for quite a test.

Michigan’s offense might have the advantage in one regard, because this isn’t the first go-round for the maize and blue against a high-caliber defense. Lining up against Penn State and Michigan State were pretty challenging endeavors earlier this season. At the very least, the Wolverines have some experience in this type of setting.

Still, the Wolverines haven’t faced a run defense that’s allowing a whisker over 80 yards per game. As good as running back Karan Higdon has been the last five weeks, that’s going to be a difficult puzzle to figure out. And freshman Brandon Peters will be challenged by a defense that’s recorded 15 interceptions and four pick-sixes this season.

That’s going to be a whole new world for Peters. Rutgers, Minnesota and Maryland don’t exactly emulate the opportunistic approach the Badgers have with the same effectiveness.

For Wisconsin, this is an entirely new venture this season. Sure, the Badgers clobbered an Iowa team that’s pretty sound defensively, but they haven’t squared off against a team that can bring constant pressure like Michigan. Alex Hornibrook — who’s been somewhat of an interception machine this season — is going to be chased down by Rashan Gary, Winovich and Hurst most of the afternoon.

Keeping Hornibrook upright is going to be a real challenge for that Wisconsin front.

We’ll probably find out how truly unstoppable freshman sensation Jonathan Taylor is this weekend, as well. The conference’s leading running back (1,525 yards, 12 touchdowns) has hit the century mark seven times in 10 games this season. But only one ball-carrier — Penn State’s Saquon Barkley — has rushed for 100 yards against Michigan this season.

That will be something to keep an eye on.

Last fall, this game was all about defense. And, like last fall, the outcome of this game holds significant implications, though more so for the Badgers than the Wolverines.

A win for Wisconsin keeps its perfect season and College Football Playoff hopes alive for another week. Michigan is, essentially, fighting for an improved bowl destination, potentially a New Years Six appearance if things fall into place.

On paper, Michigan-Wisconsin Part Two is setting up to replicate the match-up from last season.

Maybe the final score won’t be 14-7, but it won’t be much higher than that.