Defense could decide West Division winner

The Wisconsin defense scares the Gophers' coaching staff just as much as running back Melvin Gordon's legs do.

The Badgers defense was rated No. 1 in the country for most of the season and remains in the top three heading into Saturday's Big Ten West showdown with the Gophers in Madison.

"They're a challenge because they run a 3-4 scheme on defense, they're No. 1 in the country, I believe, on defense. That speaks for itself," Gophers coach Jerry Kill said Tuesday. "Then on the other side is a guy from another planet."

And while the Badgers can no longer claim that No. 1 spot, they do rank high in key measures: second in the nation in yards allowed (259.3 per game), third in points allowed (16.1), third in passing defense (162.2 yards per game) and fifth in rushing defense (97.1).

The Gophers defense, meanwhile, will spend the afternoon trying to bring Gordon back to Earth. In the past, this task might have been too much for a group that lacked the size and skill to keep up with the country's top players. This year's core, however, has shown it can keep up with anybody.

They don't have Wisconsin's sparkling rankings, but Tracy Claeys' defense gives up the fifth-fewest points among Big Ten teams and is ranked in the top half in other key stats. Opponents are averaging 22.5 points and 154.6 rushing yards per outing.

Both team's defense has been nearly identical over its last three games that included two common opponents. The Gophers held Iowa and Nebraska to a combined 38 points and kept No. 6 Ohio State 13 points under its scoring average. Wisconsin gave up a combined 48 points in wins against Nebraska and Iowa.

"You look at it week-in and week-out, defense is always going to be underrated," Gophers defensive back Briean Boddy-Calhoun said. "Everyone knows the saying 'Defense wins championships,' and if a team can't score they can't win."

Wisconsin's outstanding defense doesn't have a Gordon-caliber name. But it's an all-around solid group, led by safety Michael Caputo and linebackers Derek Landisch and Vance Biegel.

Big defensive plays from the likes of Boddy-Calhoun and others have kept the Gophers' conference championship hopes alive. Boddy-Calhoun stripped the ball on a Cornhuskers catch near the Gophers goal line, clinching a road victory Saturday. A week earlier against Ohio State, he forced a fumble and intercepted a pass.

The two teams had a combined five defensive players drafted into the NFL in April: three Badgers and two Gophers. But both defenses have better numbers this season.

Gophers senior defensive lineman Cameron Botticelli said they don't spend a lot of time looking at other team's defenses, but the Wisconsin native knows the Badgers are one of the best. He wouldn't speculate whether Saturday's game could become a defensive battle, instead saying the Gophers would work hard all week to make sure they're the more stingy defense.