I just want to yell… Across rivers, valleys, and mountains. That’s exactly what I did with the Wisconsin Badgers last year and what we’ll do again this year, I’m sure of it. The Badgers looked like they were going to repeat 2017 and dominate the schedule and run the regular-season table. JT23 had 398 yards and 5 TDs through the first 2 games. Then I witnessed the worst Badger game besides the Cal Poly game (don’t look that up if you’re unfamiliar) I had ever seen. I’m still so bothered by that game, the BYU game that I’m referencing, that I’m moving on to 2019 now… Peaks and valleys in 2018, that’s the gist.
Prestige Ranking (If NCAA 20 came Out)
The Wisconsin Badgers would be a 4 star if the game came out this year. With the inability to win the big games they don’t bump up into the elite level tier that is the 5-star programs but keep in mind that since 2009 the Badgers are tied for 6th with 102 wins. They are 1 of 7 teams that have 100 wins in that stretch.
Season Outlook
Offense
The offense will be lead by the offensive line and pummeling rushing attack that the Badgers have. As a team last year, the Badgers as a team ran for over 3,500 yards. 2,100 of those came from Jonathan Taylor. How good this offense will rely on the quarterback play. Whether it’s Jack Coan or Graham Mertz at the helm, they’ll be throwing to talented receivers who NEED to be given the ball. Danny Davis, Kendric Pryor, A.J. Taylor, Aron Cruickshank, and tight end Jake Ferguson are all extremely talented and have made countless highlight plays. I’m finally confident that we’ll have a headstrong quarterback that will be a leader regardless of who it is.
Defense
Coming off an abysmal 2018, the Badgers are healthy again. Let’s hope that lasts. After having a stretch of 4-5 years with one of the best defenses in ALL of college football, there was a large dip in play last year. Health was the big thing, offensive lineman playing defensive line is not it chief. An incredibly young secondary will be the case again, but even sophomores have experience. I hope that Scotty Nelson gets better and can stay healthy because he could be a huge game-changer in the defensive backfield. With D’Cota Dixon not here anymore, someone has to step up, I hope it’s him.
Special Teams
I don’t usually care too much about special teams, but Rafael Gaglianone is gone and now we don’t have a pudgy kicker to fall back on to hit from 35+ yards. I miss you already.
The Schedule
At South Florida- W
That’s a win. Not sure what could be a challenge because I’m unfamiliar with the Bulls, but I don’t think a team that lost 6 straight to end the season in a bad conference is much to worry about.
Central Michigan- W
These two teams have a history. Well not totally… This will be the first matchup ever between the teams, but there once was a young man from Pewaukee, Wisconsin who was a scholarship Tight End for Central Michigan. He would spend a single season there and come home and walk-on to the Wisconsin Badgers. A little position change and that young man turned into 5X All-Pro, 3X NFL Defensive Player of the year, and First Team All-American defensive end J.J. Watt. The Badgers will win this game, the Chippewas are bad.
Michigan- L
The last 3 games between these teams Michigan has taken the first and last. Last years game was a drubbing of the Badgers. The year before the Badgers took care of business in Camp Randall on their way to an undefeated regular season. In the first of this 3 game set, Michigan won a tight 14-7 matchup. Hopefully, the Badgers can even out the series, but I won’t predict that to happen. 2-1 after 3 games.
Northwestern- W
Despite the loss in Evanston last year, I think the Wisconsin Badgers can start the season 3-1 with a win in Camp Randall against a talented Northwestern team.
Kent State- W
Between Kent State and Central Michigan, they combined to go 3-21 last year. Kent State had 2 of the wins and even lost to Illinois last season. Easy money. I’ll even call the shot now, 300 yards for Jonathan Taylor.
Michigan State- W
I just think that even though this Michigan State team is talented that when there’s a good game to be played at Camp Randall that I’m taking the Badgers. It will be a well-fought game, but I believe that if the Badgers are where I hope and expect them to be that it should be a win.
At Illinois- W
We’ll just go so we don’t get fined.
At Ohio State- L
I’m not going to pretend that we belong in the Horseshoe with Ohio State, this will be a loss, however, playing Illinois is like a bye week so hopefully, we will give them a run for their money.
At Iowa- L
3 straight games traveling and especially after playing Ohio State, there is a good chance that it being in Iowa helps the Hawkeyes to a victory.
At Nebraska- W
I don’t believe the hype one bit. However, it being in Nebraska can make this game tough. This could end up being an extremely important conference game too and I don’t think the Badgers will shy away from the moment.
Purdue- W
I’m going to go with the same argument I had for the Michigan State game, it’s in Camp Randall. Purdue has suddenly become a dark horse because of Coach Brohm, but I think the Badgers could surprise themselves and have an incredible season.
At Minnesota- W
I will NEVER say we would lose to these nasty fucking rodents.
2019 Projection: 9-3 (6-3)
We will have to see where this puts the Wisconsin Badgers in terms of the conference, but I think this is just about the ceiling for the Badgers. I can also see a world where some of those games flip and the Badgers end up just bowl eligible. However, this is totally dependent on competent quarterback play. I can see the Badgers winning 7 games with Graham Mertz mostly at the helm for the second half of the season. I’m going to be on edge all season so please take things I say with a grain of salt if we get into a Twitter fight.
Key Players
This section clearly has to start with JT23, the epitome of the Wisconsin Badgers. He was the leader in rushing yards in ALL of college football last season. Jonathan Taylor now has 4170 yards in his freshman and sophomore seasons. That puts him just under 3,000 yards away from former Badger Ron Dayne’s career leading total of 7,125. That being said, since bowl games aren’t included in Dayne’s stats because he is before the 2002 cutoff.
JT23 is only 2,220 yards away from Dayne’s mark which is now second and is 2,230 yards behind Donnell Pumphrey who is the all-time leader with 6,405. So Taylor needs just 40 more yards than he had last season and he will jump from 103rd all-time to the leading rusher in NCAA history. All this by his junior year. There are countless games he was taken out by the 4th quarter. Oh, and he wasn’t even the #1 running back on the depth chart in 2017. He had 9 carries for 87 yards after an AWFUL first half of the opening game of 2017. So below I dropped 7 minutes of his career highlights for us to drool over.
On the defensive side of the ball for the Wisconsin Badgers, I have to say that our key player is a Freshman linebacker, Spencer Lytle. The Cali commit played at St. John Bosco, one of the most prestigious and successful high school football programs in America. Lytle comes to a program who has had 5 linebackers drafted in the last 3 NFL drafts.
That doesn’t include arguably the best linebacker of them all in T.J. Edwards. That’s saying a lot for a single program. He’s very comparable to the aforementioned Edwards who had 112 tackles his senior year and 22.5 TFL’s and 7 interceptions between his junior and senior season. I hope that because Lytle graduated early and came to campus early that he has a good grip on the defense which as a 4-year honor roll student in high school I would bet he does. Here’s to Lytle and hopefully the beginning of a great Badger career.
