With expectations high for this year's football team, many are projecting the Badgers to have a win total in the double-digits. It is easy enough to run down the schedule and assign wins and losses on a first-glance basis, but here is an overview of Wisconsin's conference schedule following a preseason featuring UNLV, Arizona State, San Jose State, and Austin Peavy to aid in your pre-season prognostication.
At Michigan State- Oct. 2
This is an early trap game for the Badgers. Everybody talks about Ohio State and Iowa, but head coach Bret Bielema and his squad would be ill-advised to look past the Spartans. The offense loses explosive wide receiver Blair White, but up and coming junior quarterback Kirk Cousins has a chance to step into the upper echelon of Big Ten signal callers.
The defense should be solid, led by First Team All-American middle linebacker Greg Jones, the media's preseason pick for Defensive Player of the Year in the Big Ten. This game might just serve as an early crossroads in Wisconsin's season.
Minnesota- Oct. 9
This year's battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe takes place in Madison on Homecoming weekend, and it is sure to be a raucous atmosphere. Even though the Gophers are picked to finish near the bottom of the league, the records might as well get body-passed right over the edge of the student section for this one.
Senior quarterback Adam Weber will no longer have Eric Decker to throw to, but he is more game-tested than any passer in the conference.
While the offense remains largley intact, the defense returns only two starters, both in the defensive backfield. Clay and the Badger backs should be licking their chops for this one.
No. 2 Ohio State- Oct. 16
The Badgers had a very similar date with the Buckeyes in 2008 when they squared off under the lights at Camp Randall. UW lost that game 20-17 and went on to finish a disappointing 7-6 after being ranked No. 9 in the preseason polls.
This year, Wisconsin will again have it's hands full with a loaded Buckeyes roster. Junior quarterback Terrelle Pryor is the media's preseason pick for Offensive Player of the Year and the defense is as talented as ever, despite losing Thaddeus Gibson to the NFL. Senior cornerback Chimdi Chekwa and senior defensive end Cameron Heyward return along with senior linebacker Ross Homan to give each level of the defense a star. If the Badgers are serious about making a title run, this is a must-win.
At No. 9 Iowa- October 23
The Badgers could enter Iowa City in a true make-or-break situation. Should Wisconsin get this far without losing (or with one loss), this will be the biggest hurdle left on the schedule.
Led by senior Adrian Clayborn, the entire defensive line returns to give Iowa the most feared defensive front in the Big Ten.
Senior quarterback Ricky Stanzi returns for a third year at the helm of the Hawkeye offense. He has a career record of 18-4 and was a 2009 semi-finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award, given annually to the nation's top quarterback. A win at Iowa most likely means the Badgers are still in the running for a BCS berth, while a loss likely ends those aspirations.
At Purdue- Nov. 6
After facing Ohio State and Iowa back-to-back weeks, Wisconsin will get a bye week before heading to West Lafayette, Ind. to take on the Boilermakers. Purdue figures to get stronger as the season goes on, as former Miami Hurricane quarterback Robert Marve gets a handle on the offense. He was forced to sit out the 2009 campaign after transferring from Miami, but is a very talented passer and has a chance to be the next in a line of successful signal callers to come out of Purdue.
The Badgers certainly will face more resistance than a year ago when they rolled over the Boilermakers 37-0 at Camp Randall.
Indiana- Nov. 13
The Hoosiers struggled to score last year, averaging just 23.5 points per game. However, their ariel attack should be improved this year, as they boast two of the most potent pass-catchers in the league. Between senior wide receivers Tandon Doss (77 catches, 962 yards) and Damarlo Belcher (61 catches, 770 yards), senior quarterback Ben Chappell should have a nice arsenal to utilize.
Indiana did not beat a Top 25 team last year (0-5), and as the weather starts to cool, tackling the Badgers big backs will not get any easier to tackle.
At Michigan- Nov. 20
In his third season at the helm of the Wolverines program, head man Rich Rodriguez looks to right the ship after a 1-7 mark in the Big Ten a year ago. First, he'll have to find a quarterback, as sophomores Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson compete for the starting job in the Wolverines' spread offense.
On defense, Michigan has already suffered a big blow, losing senior cornerback Troy Woolfolk to a serious leg injury. Health is always a wildcard when looking this far down the road, but Wisconsin at full strength will have a serious size advantage over the Wolverines.
Northwestern- Nov. 27
The Badgers close out their regular season at home against the Wildcats, who have found new life under head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Last year, Northwestern won eight games and played in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day. This year, the Wildcats look to continue that success on the field, and will be led by an offense that returns eight starters. While they'll be replacing departed quarterback Mike Kafka, Fitzgerald's team returns all five offensive lineman and if junior signal caller Dan Presa can get a feel for the system, this offense might come close to last year's average of 404.5 yards per game.
Wisconsin always ends up in a dogfight with Northwestern, and this final-weekend matchup will likely be just that.
