The Wisconsin Badgers are set to begin their 2011 college football campaign ranked 10th in the preseason USA-Today Coaches Poll and are college football predictions 2011 favorites to win Leaders Division in the inaugural season of an expanded, 12 team, Big Ten Conference. Ohio State and Penn State, picked two and three in Leaders, are expected to put up some stiff competition, while Illinois, Purdue and Indiana will fight hard but are probably a year or two away from mounting a serious Big Ten run.
Of course what's discussed in preseason is just that – all talk. We'll find out quickly who has the right stuff to make it all the way to the 2012 BCS championship Game next January. The Badgers are my pick to repeat as Big Ten champs over the Cornhuskers but the battle should be one for the ages. Fortunately, we get to see these two powers bang heads early when the Badgers get them at home at Camp Randall Stadium Oct. 1 in a nationally televised night game (8 p.m. ET).
This could be Bret Bielema's best team at Wisconsin if a few wrinkles get ironed out. Following the Badgers Rose Bowl loss to TCU, it looked like the team would be starting red-shirt sophomore Jon Budmayr. Then the gift horse came by and dropped Russell Wilson on them, a North Carolina State senior transfer who's already a seasoned and accomplished quarterback in college football. Wilson is able to play immediately since he's already graduated from college and is enrolling in a post graduate program at UW. Wilson has been thrown into the mix and is competiting for the starting job. It's my bet Wilson will be under center in the Badgers opener with UNLV Sept. 1.
The Badgers only return 11 starters from its championship team of 2010, but Bielema has recruited well and will be reloading rather than rebuilding. Of course their punch is more of the one-two variety with running backs James White and Montee Ball back for another season.
I said earlier the Badgers are my pick to win the Big Ten. I've circled some key dates on the schedule, Nebraska we've already talked about, then Michigan State and Ohio State on the road in back to back weekends. Don't think for a second the Buckeyes will be toothless following their scandalous off season. The Spartans and Buckeyes will go all out to win.
Wisconsin Badgers College Football Predictions 2011 – BCS Odds 2012
2011 wins: Over 9.5 (even) Under 9.5 (-120)
2011 Big Ten Championship +140
2012 BCS Championship Odds +1500
