Tar Heels vs Badgers

John Bunting was exaggerating just a bit when he discussed Wisconsin's production on offense.
"This team, as you know, has scored 1,000 points in the last two games," Bunting said.
There is a big difference between 1,000 and 121, but Bunting's point about North Carolina's next opponent is valid. Wisconsin ranks second nationally in scoring at 60.5 points per game, behind only defending national champion Southern California.

Granted, the Badgers haven't played against the best defenses in the nation. Bowling Green might be the Mid-American Conference's best team, but it lost 56-42 to Wisconsin, gave up 31 points last week to Ball State and is known for quarterback Omar Jacobs, not for defense.
Temple, which lost 65-0 last week at Wisconsin, is one of the worst teams in Division I-A.
"The defenses we've played are not the caliber of the ones that we're going to play," said Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez, whose team meets Michigan after North Carolina.

"So we don't have any misconceptions that we're a great offensive (team) by any stretch of the imagination, but I think we have a chance to be a very solid offense."

Alvarez's modesty aside, the 51 points Wisconsin scored in the first half are eye-catching, even against Temple.

Bunting called the Badgers' physical offensive line play "Bludgeon Ball." He said Wisconsin's Brian Calhoun is one of the best running backs he has seen in four-plus seasons as coach at North Carolina.

Calhoun has 300 yards on 54 carries. Center Donovan Raiola is the leader of an athletic, tough offensive line.

"It's ugly sometimes what they do to people," Bunting said. "Absolutely ugly. Just maul them, knock them on the ground or sometimes they will cut them onto the ground. They are coached well."

Wisconsin quarterback John Stocco said the Badgers also are balanced. After the Badgers physically overpowered Bowling Green for 388 rushing yards, Temple crowded the box in a determined effort to stop the run.

The Badgers still ran for 263 yards and bludgeoned Temple with their play-action game and four touchdown passes.

"A lot of the things we do complement each other," Stocco said. "If teams are going to load the box, we've got some things we can do down the field."

Stocco said he is impressed with North Carolina's speed on defense. But the Tar Heels (0-1) allowed 475 yards to Georgia Tech in their opener and might be facing a bigger challenge this week.

"They are big," Bunting said. "They are physical. They are athletic. And you throw in the back and it makes for a lot of yards, so we've got a lot of work to do."

Source-Charlotte.com