The Wisconsin Badgers
 
Offense consists of rushing and passing. Therefore, if you have one of the nation’s top running backs, the odds are stacked in your favor. Now, what if you have two?  Montee Ball and James White are both Heisman candidates at 80-to-1. When was the last time you saw to Heisman caliber players at the same position on the same team? Wisconsin should “run through” the Leaders Division to reach another Big Ten title game. 

  The departure of Scott Tolzien shows that Badger domination is no guarantee in 2011. Tolzien had the 6th best passing efficiency with a 73-percent completion percentage last year. Hypothetically, defenses can pack 7 to 8 in the box until Wisconsin can prove that they can throw the ball, which should become easier because…

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  Enter NC State transfer Russell Wilson. Up until now, the lack of depth behind Budmayr was a main concern. While there is no guarantee that Wilson will take the starting gig, he lit up the ACC with two straight 3000-yard seasons and 72 touchdowns over the past two years. Apparently, another year of college is better than batting .228 in A-ball. Arguably the two top backs in the NCAA, Ball and White should carry the offensive load to help Wilson or Budmayr ease into the starting role. Overcoming the losses of Gabe Carimi and John Moffitt on the O-line will also be a priority on offense.

  J.J. Watt and his 7 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 blocked kicks, and 8 passes defended will be the hardest to replace (i.e. he can’t be replaced). With 5 former starters gone, the Wisconsin defense will be highly suspect for a team ranked in the preseason. The secondary was only average last year and is not a lock to improve this year. With a QB situation in flux and an average defense, why is Wisconsin favored to win the Leaders division?

  Big 10 Title Hopes
It has been well documented that the Badgers are almost unbeatable at home; they have gone 43-4 since 2004. This year, they open up the season with six home games and only have four on the road all year. They miss Northwestern, Michigan, and Iowa while playing three non-conference cupcakes plus Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Purdue. All signs point to another run at the Big Ten title.

  According to TheGreek.com, Wisconsin is +125 to win the Leaders division. I like that bet much more than +175 to win the conference where they will presumably play Nebraska. With a projected 3-team race in their division, the biggest games of the year will at Ohio State and the last game of the season, home vs Penn State. There is nothing that indicates that Ohio State will be a major power this year and Penn State was 0-4 against ranked teams last year.  Despite the low price, Wisconsin +125 to win the Leaders division is our pick.

  Worth a BCS Title Future?
If Wisconsin beats Nebraska in their first conference game, Wisconsin suddenly becomes a national title contender. While +2000, makes Badgers a long shot to win the National Championship, they are a strong flyer pick. With both Wilson and Budmayr, there is increased pressure for each to produce at QB and a productive QB would portend a repeat offensive season (41.5 points per game last year). Nebraska is the only national power that they face (maybe twice), and if the defense can hold its own, Ball and White should be able to beat Nebraska’s tough defensive line to make a run at an undefeated conference season.

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