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| Camp Randall. 10/31/2015 dwm |
The fact of the matter is they've missed a bunch of W's over the last two full seasons.
There are shreds of optimism around the team. The roster is supposed to be an improvement over the past two years because they had more to invest in the line-up. If the season doesn't show progress over the 2024 and 2025 season, the Badgers might also lose an L; as in head coach Luke Fickell.
One thing going for the team is their strength of schedule isn't as difficult as a year ago. Last year, I thought they could win seven, instead they won 4 and lost 8.
Here's my predictions for Bucky and crew this season.
September 6
Badgers v Notre Dame - Lambeau Field
The Fighting Irish are ranked in the Top Ten and considered by some as a favorite to win the National Championship, so I can't bring myself to predict an upset here. Like a lot of Badger fans, seeing the Badgers keep the game close into the fourth quarter, will feel like a win. (Season 0 - 1, Conf. 0 - 0 )
September 12
Western Illinois v Wisconsin - Camp Randall
The Leathernecks had the same record as the Badgers last season. They play in the Missouri Valley Conference and their home is Macomb, southwest of Peoria. If Bucky is improved, they should post a W when they finish. (1 - 1, 0 - 0)
September 19
Eastern Michigan v Wisconsin - Camp Randall
I have a ticket in the upper deck of the west grandstand for this game with Eagles from Ypsilanti, so I'm hoping to see the Badgers are clicking on offense, defense, and special teams. It's another W. (2 - 1, 0 - 0)
September 26
Badgers @ Penn State - Beaver Stadium
The Nittany Lions are ranked as one of the best 20 teams in the country and they are playing at home, a place they refer to as Happy Valley. If the Badgers can build on two weeks of momentum and keep the game close into the second half; that will demonstrate the kind of improvements fans are looking to see. Like the Notre Dame game, keeping close will feel like a W. (2 - 2, 0 - 1)
October 3
Michigan State v Wisconsin - Camp Randall
According to ESPN and their pre-season rankings, they rank the Badgers 62 in the country and Michigan State 67, so this should be a close game. It's at home, and I'm assuming that for the first time in four seasons the quarterback, Colton Joseph, is still able to stand and throw the ball as the starter. If the Badgers want to go to a bowl game, they need a W here. (3 - 2, 1 - 1)
October 10 - Bye
October 17
Badgers @ UCLA - The Rose Bowl
The Badgers usually play well in the Rose Bowl, but they were playing in the Rose Bowl game. This time it's a early season conference contest with two teams that are trying to get out of the B1G cellar. The Bruins were considered a better team before the season begun, if Wisconsin is going to get its football reputation back they find a W. I think they come up short. (3 - 3, 1 - 2)
October 24
USC v Wisconsin - Camp Randall
The Badgers have only played the Trojans of USC twice, losing both contests. The University of Southern California could find a cold and wet atmosphere in Madison and the Badgers play out of their minds. I hope that happens, but it's more likely that the Trojans beat Bucky. (3 - 4, 1 - 3)
October 31
Badgers @ Iowa - Kinnick Stadium
This is one of two rivalry games for the Badgers. Records don't mean much and frequently the better team on paper isn't the one that wins. This will be slobber-knocker of a game, winning a game like this will excite Badger Nation... here's hoping it happens! (4 - 4, 2 - 3)
November 7
Rutgers v Wisconsin - Camp Randall
According to those preseason rankings, Wisconsin is a slightly better team than the state university of New Jersey. If the Badgers are showing growth each week, this is the kind of win that builds on the win over Iowa, Bucky gets another W. (5 - 4, 3 - 3)
November 14
Badgers @ Maryland - SECU Stadium
Last season Maryland trounced the Badgers on their home field 27 - 10. I expect a closer game this time, but the Badgers lose. (5 - 5, 3 - 4)
November 21
Badgers @ Purdue - Ross-Ade Stadium
Purdue brings up the rear when it comes to B1G football these days. While we lived in Indiana, I saw several games in Ross-Ade between the Boilermakers and the Badgers, and Wisconsin won every time. Bucky gets a scare, but holds on to the W and the Badgers become bowl-eligible. (6 - 5, 4 - 4)
November 27
Minnesota v Wisconsin - Camp Randall
The Badgers have lost four of the last five games against Minnesota in the Paul Bunyon Axe game. The Gophers lead the series 64 - 63 with 8 ties. It's the longest-running rivalry in Division One football. This game should be the one that every player on the Badgers wants to win more than any other. The outcome of this game could determine who the head coach of Wisconsin is in 2027. Wisconsin needs to win this game, and they do! (7 - 5, 5 - 4)
We'll see what happens, starting tonight. On Wisconsin!
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