2012 Wisconsin Badgers Football Quickview
2011 Record: 11-3
Head Coach: Bret Bielema- 7th year 60-19
Returning Starters: 11 5- Offense 6- Defense
Nonconference Schedule Breakdown: Bret Bielema/Barry Alvarez tried to schedule a legit nonconference team back when the Badgers did a home and home with Oregon State…but it just didn’t work out that way…Wisconsin has to travel to Corvalis this fall to play a Beaver team that finished 2011 at 3-9…they also get home games vs Northern Iowa, Utah State and Texas-El Paso…it turns out that OSU has the worst record of the four non-Big Ten teams that Bielema gets in 2012…so even though it looks like a decent Pac 12 school…Alvarez knew…Bielema knew they were going to fade…you can’t fool us Alvarez!
Schedule Rank (in the Big Ten) 12th hardest: The Badgers have a really good shot at not only returning to the Big Ten title game, but winning it again…they get their biggest threat in the Leaders (OSU) at home (and it doesn’t even matter)…their toughest road game is their 1st Big Ten game at Nebraska….they get ELU at home…the overall records of all of their 2012 opponents was barely over .500 in 2011…78-75…so another title run is probably in the future for Wisconsin.
Who they don’t play in 2012: Iowa, Michigan, Northwestern
The Skinny: Danny O’Brien is the latest D-1 QB to jump in the QB seat in Madison and he has more than one year of eligibility left too…but the story here is Montee Ball….a lot of experts say this kid is the real deal…and he is good…but I am not expecting the same kind of season from him in 2012…how can he repeat over 1900 yds rushing and 39 TD’s?…not gonna happen…when teams lined up to stop him in 2011, Russell Wilson just used his experience and beat them either running or throwing…O’Brien isn’t Russell Wilson…I think there will be growing pains…expect lower numbers from Ball…and lower W totals from the Badgers..plus the Badgers replaced 6 assistant coaches this offseason..
Toughest Game in 2012: September 29th @ Nebraska…The Badgers have never won in Lincoln (0-2)…but if Wisconsin can get a W here, it may be their biggest hurdle on the road in 2012 and pave the way for a Leaders title…
Best Player: Montee Ball…but it should be the QB…O’Brien needs to be able to hit big passes to keep the defenses of off Ball or injuries could set in and the Badgers will be playing just for a bowl berth, not a title…
What MIGHT happen: Wisconsin runs the table and is unbeaten (9-0) heading into the November 17th showdown at home vs Ohio State…(that doesn’t matter)
What WILL happen: Ball will struggle to gain significant yards and Danny O’Brien will not be as effective as Russell Wilson…but the defense will be better…
What WON’T happen: East Lansing wins in Madison….they’ve lost 4 straight at Camp Randall.
Why they won’t win the Big Ten: No major WR threat (as much as I like Abbrederis, he can’t do it all)…new QB, the secondary is a concern…and so is the pass rush for that matter…AND 6 new coaches on staff…
Why they will win the Big Ten: It’s Wisconsin…all you have to do is turn around and hand it off to Ball right?…and hope O’Brien doesn’t turn it over more than the number of TD passes he throws…
Gotta know about the Badgers in 2012, Wisconsin will be trying to join Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio State as the only teams to win three consecutive Big Ten titles..
BOLD Statement: Not only will the Badgers not win the Big Ten title, they won’t even get a chance to play for it…
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About Chad Godfrey
I think you’re confused on facts; the Badgers haven’t lost in Madison to MSU since before Bret Bielema was head coach
Nice call BuckAround…thanks for the catch….and thanks for continuing to read my stuff…despite the articles being riddled with E’s.