2010 Wisconsin Football Predictions
The 2009 Wisconsin Badgers broke through with their first 10-win campaign since 2006 with a victory over Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl getting them there. With a lot of talent and depth returning on both sides of the football, head coach Bret Bielema has a team capable of winning the Big Ten. But it won’t be easy. The Badgers had three losses in conference play a season ago, and two of them came by double digits to Iowa and Ohio State. The other loss was a two-point setback at Northwestern. I’m confident the Badgers can avenge that loss, but getting revenge over Iowa and Ohio State may be asking too much, especially if the defense doesn’t improve. Wisconsin allowed six opponents to score 28 or more points last season.
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Offense: The Badgers were the No. 1 ranked offensive team in the Big Ten in 2009, leading the league in both scoring and total offense. The Badgers averaged 31.8 points on 416.9 yards per game. Wisconsin did most of its damage on the ground, leading the Big Ten in rushing offense with a 203.9 yards per game average. Talented running back John Clay returns to lead the ground attack. Clay rushed for 1,517 yards and 18 touchdowns on his way to Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors. Good defensive teams like Ohio State and Iowa had success in slowing down Wisconsin’s running game. They dared quarterback Scott Tolzien to beat them through the air, and he was not able to do so. Ohio State held Clay to just 59 rushing yards and the Badgers to a total of only 118. With the pressure on Tolzien to move the football through the air, he was sacked six times and picked off twice. Iowa held Clay to 75 yards rushing and the Badgers to just 87 total. With Wisconsin unable to get much of anything in the running game, it was up to Tolzien again. But he was sacked four times and picked off on three occasions. The Badgers have the potential to boast the best offense in the league again, but whether they can win a conference title could come down to how Tolzien plays against Ohio State and Iowa.
Defense: Ohio State and Iowa both appear to have the edge over Wisconsin on the defensive side of the football as we enter the 2010 season. It’s not like the Badgers were bad defensively in 2009, but they allowed 9.3 more points per game than the Buckeys and 6.4 more points per game than Iowa. Wisconsin has shown it can stop the run. In fact, it boasted the best run-stuffing unit in the Big Ten last year. Defensive end J.J. Watt is a potential first-team all-Big Ten pick, but the major progress that was made on this side of the football could plateau with three starters to replace beside Watt. Mike Taylor, Culmer St. Jean and Chris Borland form a very strong linebacker unit. The Badgers were susceptible to the pass in 2009, allowing 217.7 yards per game through the air, and that could be a problem again. The cornerback play was inconsistent and the team will really miss free safety Chris Maragos.
Prediction: 3rd Big Ten - The Badgers appear poised for a second straight double-digit win season, but back-to-back October contests against Ohio State and Iowa could ruin their Big Ten title hopes. College football lines makers have listed Wisconsin at +4000 to win the BCS title. Be sure to check out my 2010 Big 10 football predictions to see how I have the rest of the league shaping up. My 2010 college football predictions take you inside the conference champions of each FBS league.
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