More photos » Andy Manis - AP

Can Wisconsin run the table at home in 2010? (AP Photo/Andy Manis, File)

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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.

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More photos » Nati Harnik - AP

The good news? Nebraska's cheerleaders will make their first Big Ten trip to Madison. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

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So the divisions came out exactly as was reported earlier today:

Division 1: Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa and Northwestern.

Division 2: Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois.

I wrote about my not so happy thoughts on the divisions earlier, so now we turn our attention to the 2011 and 2012 Big Ten schedules which were also released Wednesday:

2011
10/1 - Nebraska
10/15 - Indiana
10/22 - at Michigan State
10/29 - at Ohio State
11/5 - Purdue
11/12 - at Minnesota
11/19 - at Illinois
11/26 - Penn State

Consider it a consolation prize for having Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska placed in the other division, but Wisconsin will get to host Nebraska in its Big Ten debut. It makes a lot of sense with Barry Alvarez's ties to the university and his work in getting the Cornhuskers into the Big Ten.

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More photos » Morry Gash - AP

Sorry, Bret. Your rivalries with Nebraska and Iowa are in jeopardy.(AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

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The Big Ten will announce its two divisions tonight at 6 p.m. on the Big Ten Network and it's looking like the Wisconsin Badgers won't be enjoying the news.

According to ESPN.com's Andy Katz, the divisions will look like this:

Division 1: Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern and Minnesota.

Division 2: Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois.

That's right Badger fans, if these divisions are true, Wisconsin's top two rivals -- and potential big time rival (Nebraska) -- will all be in the other division.

Ohio State and Michigan will also be split up and so will Northwestern and Illinois. In fact, at first glance, the only major rivalries that appear intact are Purdue-Indiana and Michigan-Michigan State.

So why are these the divisions?

From day one Jim Delany has said competitive balance would play a big part in forming the divisions. Well, it certainly did. Lindsey Willhite from the Daily Herald did the math and found that the two divisions' winning percentage since 1993 ARE BOTH .580.

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More photos » Julie Jacobson - AP

9 days ago: UNLV football coach Bobby Hauck, center, encourages players as they move on to other drills during the team's first in-school practice of the season, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010, in Las Vegas. UNLV opens its season against Wisconsin on Sept. 4. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

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So, you're probably not very familiar with the UNLV Rebels. Thankfully, SB Nation has a great blog on the entire Mountain West Conference and Jeremy Mauss from Mountain West Connection was kind enough to fill us in on UNLV:

Bucky's 5th Quarter: What do we need to know about new head coach Bobby Hauck. What kind of offense/defense does he run and what changes is he bringing to a program that only has one winning season in the last 15 years?

Mountain West Connection: The offense Hauck runs mirrors what most of the Big Ten does where he will put his quarterback under center and run the ball a lot.  That is what he did at Montana where he was very successful with deep FCS playoff runs. Do not expect him to pull a Rich Rodriguez and completely force his type of offense, so you will still see the spread offense mixed in with Hauck's new pro-style, run-based offense. The quarterback position is talented with Omar Clayton running the show as is wide receiver Phillip Payne, but the running game has not been good which may meen the offense will probably struggle in a run-based offense. Anything Hauck does with the defense will make it an improvement over the offensively obsessed former coach Mike Sanford. 

B5Q: What should we expect at quarterback from the Rebels? Omar Clayton is a former walk-on who battled injuries last year. Is he definitely the starter or will we see a few guys behind center?

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Bret Bielema's first Monday press conference of the season was earlier this afternoon and I just wanted to drop in some of the key notes as the depth chart was released today:

• Linebacker Mike Taylor will make the trip to UNLV, but a decision on whether or not he will play will be made later in the week. Bielema said he was running late last week and will continue to do so today. If Taylor can't play, senior Blake Sorensen will get the nod.
• Despite a report last week that freshman James White would be the No. 1 punt and kick returner, senior David Gilreath is still No. 1 at both spots. White is the No. 2 punt returner and Nick Toon is the No. 2 kick returner. With Toon and Gilreath listed as the starting wide receivers, it seems to make sense for White to take over the returning duties, but for now that is not the case. It also seems like a gamble to have Toon -- the team's best receiver -- on kick return duties.
• White is listed as the team's No. 3 running back behind John Clay and Montee Ball and Bielema said that "all three of those running backs are going to play and they are going to play a lot." So what about senior Zach Brown? Bielema said Brown will redshirt the 2010 season, which will provide the Badgers with some insurance should Clay go to the NFL next year.
• Linebacker Culmer St. Jean is back and 100 percent healthy. He will start at middle linebacker Saturday.
• Bill Nagy and Kevin Zeitler are both back and healthy enough to play. They are still battling for the starting nod at right guard.
• Jordan Kohout and Patrick Butrym will start at defensive tackle Saturday while a decision has to be made betwen Louis Nzegwu and David Gilbert at the defensive end position opposite of J.J. Watt.

Don't forget that you can still get a copy of Badger Kickoff 2010 which is a full-color 128-page magazine previewing the 2010 Wisconsin Badgers. You can find copies at grocery stores, pharmacies and newsstands across Wisconsin or you can order it online at MapleStreetPress.com.

More photos » Andy Manis - AP

Jay Valai has a concussion (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

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Freshman Mason could need knee surgery; Valai has concussion

It appears Mike Taylor's latest knee surgery won't be as damaging  as originally thought. He might not even miss a game, Bret Bielema said after Wednesday night's practice.

"It was good news," Bielema said. "His injury looked better than they thought. They were able to clean it up. I know Mike is in good spirits. Hopefully we'll get him back sooner than later. Might be before the UNLV game."

The Badgers might not be as lucky with a pair of freshmen on offense.

Redshirt freshman Brian Wozniak suffered a fracture in his right shoulder and is out indefinitely. Further X-rays will be done tomorrow to determine the severity of the injury.

Meanwhile, true freshman wide receiver Marquis Mason was using crutches and did not practice tonight after being active in the morning practice. He has been battling knee tendinitis since the summer, according to Bielema, but it could result in surgery.

Mason wrote on his facebook page Wednesday night: "Potentially need knee surgery..."

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More photos » Marco Garcia - AP

Blake Sorensen hopes to back practicing by Monday. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

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Taylor's surgery goes well; Sorensen hopes to be back by Monday

Editor's note: Practice is open to the media this week and I had a chance to get up to Madison this morning for the first of two practices today. I will also be at practice this evening. Be sure to follow @B5Q on Twitter for the latest updates.

Injuries continue to be an issue for the Badgers as we are in the middle of what J.J. Watt described as "grind week" after practice Wednesday.

Starting strong safety Jay Valai missed today's morning practice and had his right leg wrapped up while using one crutch to get around. He was not made available to the media, but head coach Bret Bielema is expected to provide an injury update after tonight's practice, which starts at 7:30.

Reserve safety Conor O'Neill also missed practice Wednesday so third-year sophomore Shelton Johnson worked with the first-team defense.

Meanwhile, senior linebacker Blake Sorensen missed practice for a third straight day with a right calf injury. He could miss the rest of the week.

"It's kind of hard. I don't know when it is going to feel better," Sorensen said after practice. "So I'd say at least by Monday, but we'll see how it feels. Hopefully the sooner the better."

Sorensen is already filling in for starting outside linebacker Mike Taylor who underwent a second surgery on his right knee Tuesday. It was a minor surgery and Sorensen was upbeat about Taylor's return.

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I caught up with Wisconsin senior quarterback Scott Tolzien last week at Big Ten Media Days. Here is my exclusive one-on-one interview with UW's second-year starter:

B5Q: So what's going on? How was the offseason?

Tolzien: It's been good. It's been a fun summer. Shorter than ever. Every year it seems like the summer gets shorter. But it was a good summer program. I thought guys rallied and did a lot more running this summer and think the guys are in much better shape than they were a year ago.

B5Q: Going into this season, what do you think has changed as far as you as a starting quarterback?

Tolzien: I wouldn't say too much. I know a year ago I was fighting for a starting job, but I try to be the same guy and try to attack each day. When you do that, and just work your tail off in the film room and wait room, I think guys notice it and ultimately it gets you to where you need to be.

B5Q: When you look back at last season, most of your mistakes came in those two losses in the middle of the year against Ohio State and Iowa. When you look at how you can improve this season, are those the two games you go back to?

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