Welcome to pre-Thanksgiving edition of Saturday Scorecard, where it is officially time to hang the Christmas lights (but gauche to turn them on already).

On to the notes...

Overrated? It's OK for Wisconsin fans to be disappointed about the Badgers' 33-31 punch-in-the-gut loss to Northwestern Saturday afternoon in Evanston, Ill.

Disappointed, but not totally surprised...

The 17th-ranked Badgers (8-3 overall, 5-3 Big Ten) have a history of dumping games to the unranked Wildcats at Ryan Field (2003 and ‘05). Northwestern is a scrappy outfit, unbeaten in November and has the kind of momentum that Wisconsin wanted to take into sun-soaked games in Hawaii and Florida.

Well, they can scratch Florida from the itinerary.

When the day began, coach Bret Bielema's Badgers had a faint, fleeting hope of sharing the Big Ten title. That was dashed when Ohio State routed Michigan in Ann Arbor.

The Badgers still had a chance to finish in a three-way tie for second, but the Wildcats dashed that dream by shredding Wisconsin's secondary and special teams.

Rather than heading to the Outback Bowl, the Badgers likely are headed to the Alamo Bowl Jan. 2 in San Antonio.

A few days ago, some friends tried to convince me that Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema was a candidate for Big Ten coach of the year and that running back John Clay and defensive lineman O'Brien Schofield could be the offensive and defensive players.

Those predictions seem less than rosy now, and it's amazing how quickly things turned.

The Badgers' entire season must now be viewed through a different prism. The "should have won" games against Ohio State and Iowa are eclipsed by the loss to Northwestern and the barely-won tilts against Fresno State, Indiana.

When you consider that the Badgers didn't beat a Big Ten foe with a winning record in the league, you have to conclude that the No. 17 ranking was a bit of a mirage. Though they definitely may have exceeded pre-season expectations, these Badgers were basically a mediocre team in a bad Big Ten Conference in what has been a bland, uninspiring year for college football.

Here we are, wrapping up the third week in November and there have been few spine-tingling moments or matchups. (Florida vs. Florida A&M?) The Heisman Trophy race is a snoozer. And, the only real drama remaining is whether Alabama or Florida will face Texas for the national title game.

The Badgers have a week off before the Hawaii trip to wonder why they came out flat and couldn't stop Northwestern's passing attack (Mike Kafka completed 26 of 40 passes for 326 yards). And, the people in the "Fire Bielema" camp have more ammunition to wail about heading into next season.

The short-term outlook for Wisconsin's program seems solid, particularly if John Clay returns next season.

Maybe next time: Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings admitted that he had circled Saturday's game against Memphis on his calendar. He was looking forward to facing his boyhood hero, Allen Iverson, but the point guard left the Grizzlies and is currently unemployed.

"It would have been cool to face him," Jennings said. "I had posters of him on my wall growing up."

Asked if he'd have requested an autographed pair of shoes or other souvenir from Iverson, Jennings laughed. "Probably not," he said. "But, would have asked him some advice."

In the Hall: The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed six new members at a ceremony Friday night at the Milwaukee Theatre, and the Badgers were well-represented. Current Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, former UW hoops player/philanthropist Ab Nicholas, former Badgers basketball and tennis coach John Powless and former UW wrestling standout Lee Kemp were added to the Hall, along with former Packers president Bob Harlan and Judith Sweet, a Milwaukee native who was the first female president of the NCAA.

Larry King Lounge: Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick will be on the call as the Packers face the 49ers Sunday at Lambeau Field. Kickoff is at noon... Sports Illustrated and AOL Fanhouse are among the national outlets preparing stories on Jennings.... Bucks center Andrew Bogut began rehab workouts on his left leg injury. That's a big deal, but so is the sprained left foot that is keeping Luc Richard Mbah a Moute out. It's tough to lose your two best defenders.... At some point, Jodie Meeks is going to start draining shots for the Bucks... In five games leading up to Friday night's victory over Charlotte, veteran Bucks big man Kurt Thomas played about 10 minutes. He eclipsed that in the first quarter Friday. Think he was sore? "He's a pro," Charlie Bell said. "He knows what it takes. Every day after practice, he stays out there and plays one on one with the guards. He comes in sweating like crazy. He'll be fine."... Sophomore running back Levell Coppage rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns in the first half to lead unbeaten UW-Whitewater to a 70-7 victory over Lakeland in a NCAA Division III first-round playoff game Saturday.... Junior guard Angel Robinson had a symmetrical stat line during the Marquette women's team's 79-62 victory over Oakland Saturday at the Al McGuire Center. Robinson scored 10 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished 10 assists for the first triple-double in the history of the program.... Kudos to the Brewers, who have renamed 12 parking lots around Miller Park will be named for former Brewers and Braves players. Lots will be named after Henry Aaron, Cecil Cooper, Rollie Fingers, Jim Gantner, Harvey Kuenn, Eddie Mathews, Paul Molitor, Don Money, Warren Spahn, Gorman Thomas, Bob Uecker and Robin Yount.