B5Q's Official Wisconsin Badgers Prediction: 11-1

by Adam Hoge on Sep 2, 2010 5:00 AM CDT in Wisconsin Badgers Football

So we did this last year and it worked out. I went out on a limb and said Wisconsin would win nine games in the regular season and they did.

This year, every ounce of sense in my head is telling me Wisconsin will have two losses in the regular season. The Badgers always seem to lose at least one game it shouldn't (usually on the road), which is in fact why I only had them winning nine last season.

But I truely believe this team will not only be better this season, but they will also be smarter and more focused. I don't expect them to roll into Iowa and come away with a win, but I also don't expect them to blow another 19-0 lead at Michigan.

Let's roll through the schedule:

Sept. 4 - at UNLV: Win

This was a close game when UW went out to Vegas in 2007. But the Badgers are better this year and UNLV has one of the worst defenses in the country - especially against the run.

Sept. 11 - San Jose State: Win

Hey, give the Spartans credit for scheduling. Before they go to Wisconsin, they play at Alabama. Bold, but also a good way to start 0-2.

Sept. 18 - Arizona State: Win

Last year Wisconsin had Northern Illinois and Hawaii on the schedule, two teams that were very good when the games were booked, but not so good by the time the game rolled around. That same thing happens this year with Arizona State, which could finish last in the Pac 10.

Sept. 25 - Austin Peay: Win

The Badgers' toughest challenge this this one? Figuring out that it's pronounced "Austin Pea".

Oct. 2 - at Michigan State: Win

This is one of those swing games that will either end up making or breaking the season. Looking back at 2008, the Badgers blew a fourth quarter lead and suffered one of many crushing blows that year. The Badgers should be failed and they must deliver on the road.

Oct. 9 - Minnesota: Win

You'll see the Gophers give their best effort in their biggest rivalry game, but I fully expect UW to make it seven in row over Minnesota. The Badgers just can't get caught looking ahead to the following weekend.

Oct. 16 - Ohio State: Win

Here it is, the game everyone is waiting for. Both teams should be undefeated and unlike in 2008 when the Badgers let Terelle Pryor steal a night game win at Camp Randall, the UW offense steps up in the fourth quarter and delivers.

Oct. 23 - at Iowa: Loss

While I expect the Badgers to play better on the road this season, Iowa's defense is just too good and they will shut down a potent UW offense like this did at Camp Randall last season. This will be close, but the Badgers lose their first game of 2010.

Nov. 6 - at Purdue: Win

Like 2009, four very winnable games remain after a loss to Iowa. This one will be set up a lot like UW's trip to Northwestern last season and we know how that worked out. But Wisconsin will have an extra week to prepare for Purdue and remember what they did to the Boilermakers last year after having an extra week?

Nov. 13 - Indiana: Win

Wisconsin's recent track record against Indiana at home says it all. This should be a blowout.

Nov. 20 - at Michigan: Win

Here's a game that should worry Badger fans everywhere. When a team hasn't won at a venue in 16 years, there are weird fluky elements that work against you. Maybe that explains what happened in 2008 when the Badgers blew a 19-0 halftime lead. It's hard to tell if Michigan will put it together this season and my guess is that they won't. Wisconsin gets its first win at Michigan since 1994.

Nov. 27 - Northwestern: Win

The bad news is that the Wildcats might be playing for a bowl berth here. The good news is that if Wisconsin is really 10-1 coming into this game, they might be playing for the Rose Bowl or even the BCS title game. The Badgers will close the season strong.

Overall outlook: 11-1 (7-1 Big Ten)

I don't expect any team to run the table in the Big Ten so a 7-1 record would like tie the Badgers with Iowa and/or Ohio State. So then the tiebreakers come into play. Either way, 11-1 should be good enough to put the Badgers in a BCS bowl game.

But dare I bring up 2006 when the Badgers were 11-1 and couldn't go to a BCS game because Ohio State and Michigan already earned BCS berths? The difference that year was that Wisconsin didn't have the chance to play and beat the Buckeyes. If they do so this year, it would be hard to leave the Badgers out of the BCS.

Tweet Comment 3 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I would maybe switch the Iowa and Purdue results

But I think that Purdue still has the memory of getting kicked around 37-0 in their minds. It’s a big revenge factor. And Iowa this year is just… I’m not sure what to call it. They have talent, but they have an almost completely new offensive line. They have to replace the best cover corner in the league (Spievey). They have to replace AJ Edds and Pat Angerer. And they have to find a consistent running game (to take the ball out of Stanzi’s hands so he doesn’t throw more boneheaded INTs).

My hatred of Michigan knows no bounds. Even more so after this travesty.
September 1st, 2010. A day that shall live in infamy.
"Because one of the great minds of the 21st century is raising glow-in-the-dark fish and weaving serapes..." -Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 2, 2010 10:19 AM CDT reply actions

I feel like it's going to be a three loss campaign for the Badgers

But I look at that schedule and I’ll be darned if I can find three losses in there.

Maybe the back to back OSU-Iowa games go badly and Wisconsin loses them both, and one more fluke besides? But I can’t take individual games and really confidently pick against the Badgers. Maybe Ohio State comes closest to that, but I was at Camp Randall back in 2003 when tOSU came to town riding a 19 game winning streak, as the defending national champions. There’s something electric about the Camp at night, when the kids have been fueling up all day. No matter how good Pryor is, no one can be completely confident, especially before the season starts, that Ohio State can come in here and take down the red.

Similarly, as good as Iowa was last year, their record disguises the fact that a lot of those games came down to late heroics on their part. I mean, Michigan almost beat those guys, having the ball late, down less than a touchdown, but they weren’t able to get the job done. The hawkeyes seem likely to be better on defense, maybe a touch less proficient on offense, but nowhere near good enough to say they’ll definitely beat Wisconsin.

And then there’s always the fluke loss, which, as much as it pains me as a MIchigan fan to admit, the 2008 game was, that Wisconsin stumbles through on occasion. I’m not going to call for Michigan to pull the upset (I’m guessing the Maize and Blue goes 6-6 this year), but having sat through a couple of complete head scratchers in the seven years I’ve been in Madison, you can’t dismiss the possibility.

So, potential of 12-0, and with likely floor of 9-3. I think I’ll split the difference on the low side, and settle on 10-2 as a final outcome, and a date with the Citrus Bowl after the BCS screws Wisconsin over again.

I'm expecting 100% improvement from the Lions this season.

by ahtrap on Sep 2, 2010 1:57 PM CDT reply actions

2008 was the worst Wisconsin team since 2001...

We had a QB disaster. Dustin Sherer was barely competent, and Evr*dge a total nightmare.

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 2, 2010 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Badgers Football Schedule

UNLV	Thu 09/01	W 51 - 17
Oregon St. Building The Dam	Sat 09/10	W 35 - 0
@ Northern Illinois Red And Black Attack	Sat 09/17	W 49 - 7
South Dakota Coyotes	Sat 09/24	W 59 - 10
Nebraska Corn Nation	Sat 10/01	W 48 - 17
Indiana The Crimson Quarry	Sat 10/15	W 59 - 7
@ Michigan St. The Only Colors	Sat 10/22	L 31 - 37
@ Ohio St. Along The Olentangy	Sat 10/29	L 29 - 33
Purdue Hammer and Rails	Sat 11/05	W 62 - 17
@ Minnesota The Daily Gopher	Sat 11/12	W 42 - 13
@ Illinois Hail to the Orange	Sat 11/19	W 28 - 17
Penn St. Black Shoe Diaries	Sat 11/26	W 45 - 7
@ Michigan St. The Only Colors	Sat 12/03	W 42 - 39
@ Oregon Addicted To Quack	Mon 01/02	L 38 - 45