Badger Bits: Wisconsin heads to Las Vegas with high expectations

Happy Badger football-eve everybody! Here are your Badger Bits for Friday, September 3rd.

We are literally hours away from kicking off the Badgers' 2010 season and Wisconsin is set to invade Las Vegas for a desert duel with UNLV, according to Mike Fiammetta of the Badger Herald. The Badgers appear to match up well against the Rebels, especially with regard to the rushing attack. UNLV finished worst in the Mountain West Conference in rushing defense, allowing 5.7 yards per carry. Seeing as sophomore running back John Clay averaged 5.3 yards per carry last season, the stats suggest the Clay could have a pretty good game. 

Clay will probably have to share the load out of the backfield because of his offseason ankle surgery, meaning that Montee Ball and James White will get their fair share of carries. One thing to watch for during the game would be the play of the Wisconsin secondary- most of UNLV's offensive success came from quarterback Omar Clayton.

And if you were hoping to get away from the Big Ten division talk- I'm sorry to disappoint you. Madison.com has a Q&A up with some of the most asked questions about how the Big Ten will function once the University of Nebraska joins next year.

Don't forget- Badger Kickoff 2010 is still available! This all-Badger publication is jam packed with stats and previews about the upcoming 2010 season! Run, don't walk, to get your copy today at newsstands all around Wisconsin!

More Badger Bits after the jump!

ESPN.com Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg has his picks up for Week 1. Check out the link for Rittenberg's take on Wisconsin's game, as well as all of the other week 1 Big Ten games.

Rittenberg also gives his take on one of Wisconsin's fall practices. He seems excited to see the position battle at running back between Montee Ball and James White if and when John Clay moves on to the NFL.

Tom Mulhern from Madison.com says that, at least geographically speaking, the Badgers were left by the wayside when the Big Ten divisions were set up.

In non-football news, Bo Ryan and the UW Men's Basketball coaches are set to begin interviewing candidates to replace Howard Moore, who left the staff to take the head coach position at UI-Chicago.

The Wisconsin women's hockey team will look to rebound from a disappointing 2009 season when they open the 2010 season with an eight game homestand. The Badgers will host the defending national champion UM-Duluth Bulldogs from November 26th-28th.

Don't look now, but kickoff is tomorrow at 10 PM CST! You can catch the game on the Versus network.