Wisconsin Badgers 2010 NCAAF Preview, Schedule, Odds, and Predictions: Wisconsin head football coach Bret Bielema is looking to take the Badgers to its first BCS bowl since the team won the Big Ten Conference title in 1999. The Big Ten is as difficult a conference to go unscathed as any in the nation and with games at Michigan State, Iowa, and Michigan along with Ohio State at home 2010 will be no cake walk. The Badgers are coming off a 10 win season and do happen to have 18 starters returning, more than any other Big Ten team. There are no gaping holes but there are big expectations as the Badger faithful are looking for Big things from Coach Bielema and his team. Vegas odds makers have the Wisconsin Badgers +3500 odds to win the 2011 BCS National Championship.
Offensively the Badgers are led by Scott Tolzien who won the job last summer and went on to lead the Big Ten with a 143.0 passer rating by completing almost 65% of his passes for over 2,700 yards. Wisconsin has its entire line back as well as its top three tailbacks led by junior John Clay the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year who rushed for 18 touchdowns and 1,517 yards last season. Clay is joined by sophomore Montee, senior Zach Brown and freshman James White get an opportunity to contribute. Junior wide receiver Nick Toon and senior tight end Lance Kendricks are Tolzien’s leading pass catchers returning. The odds makers at JustBet have the Wisconsin Badgers +350 to win the Big Ten Conference.
Defensively the Badgers have some holes to fill, specifically the D-line who lost all conference defensive end O’Brien Schofield, but have some talented players to step in including DT Beau Allen the true freshman has the size at 6-foot-3 and 325 pounds to plug the gaps. Sophomore Chris Borland leads the linebacking core and was awarded the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. The depth and experience at linebacker should help out with the deficiencies at both line and secondary. The odds makers at Diamond Sportsbook have the Wisconsin Badgers middle number listed at over/under 9 wins for the 2010 NCAAF regular season.
“Because of those players that we returned and because of the way that we finished the season a year ago (with a win over Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl), there’s a lot of high expectations and a lot of people saying nice things about us. But the thing we really tried to instill since January to where we are today: The only way you can guarantee tomorrow’s success is to put your work in today.” Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said. I predict an 11 win season and and a BCS Bowl berth.
2010 Wisconsin Badgers College Football Schedule
Sat, Sept 4 @ UNLV 11:00 PM ET
Sat, Sept 11 vs San Jose State 12:00 PM ET
Sat, Sept 18 vs Arizona State 3:30 PM ET
Sat, Sept 25 vs Austin Peay TBD
Sat, Oct 2 @ Michigan State TBD
Sat, Oct 9 vs Minnesota 12:00 PM ET
Sat, Oct 16 vs #2 Ohio State 7:00 PM ET
Sat, Oct 23 @ #9 Iowa
Sat, Nov 6 @ Purdue
Sat, Nov 13 vs Indiana
Sat, Nov 20 @ Michigan
Sat, Nov 27 vs Northwestern