A total of 14 starters return to a Wisconsin Badgers team that posted a 12-1 mark last season, the best in school history. 2006 Big Ten Coach of the Year Bret Bielema has dominant lines on both sides of the ball and feels his team is poised for a national title run. SportsBetting.com has made the Wisconsin Badgers 30 to 1 odds to win the 2008 BCS.
Everything in the Wisconsin offense is based on having a strong running game. Workhorse tailback P.J Hill, 5-11 222, will get the majority of touches this season and the offense will lean on him heavily. First year starting QB Tyler Donovan, 6-1 187, isn’t a big-time passer but he is accurate and should be a capable game manager. Donovan has some nice targets to throw to especially TE Travis Beckum, 6-4 221, who has NFL ability.
The depth at wideout is deep with #1 receiver good hands man Luke Swan, 6-0 193. Swan is a burner who will be complemented by big and speedy #2 WR Paul Hubbard, 6-4 215. The offensive line returns four starters from a mammoth unit that can dominate at the point of attack.
The Badgers run mainly out of the 4-3 defense but will on occasion drop a lineman back into coverage on third down. Up-front the Badgers have a run stuffing defensive tackle in Jason Chapman, 6-4 289. DE Matt Shaughnessy, 6-6 242, is a high motor player that will be in opposing QB’s faces this year.
All of the linebackers are ballers that have blazing speed. Outside linebacker Jonathan Casillas, 6-2 212, runs a legit 4.4. The secondary finishes sixth in the nation in opponents pass efficiency thanks largely to shutdown cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu, 6-1 201. Jack is so talented that he can cover almost half the field to free up the rest of the secondary to make plays. Ikegwuonu will be playing on sundays next season. On the other side CB Allen Langford, 5-11 196, is also a quality cover guy with playmaking ability. The safeties are inexperienced but the team is high on FS Shane Carter, 6-2 205.
The special teams have a pair of great legs but the coverage and return units need work.
The schedule is favorable for the Wisconsin Badgers to win the Big 10 this year over their nemesis Michigan.
Depending on Quarterback production, the Badgers could win anywhere from 9 to 12 games.
Brad Marchetti’s Opening Game Wisconsin Badgers Power Ratings: 20-80 Scale
20- Poor
30- Well Below Average
40- Below Average
50- Average
60- Above Average
70- Very Good
80- Great
Coaching: 65
Quarterback : 50
Backs : 70
Receivers : 65
Offensive Line : 70
Defensive Line : 70
Linebackers : 70
Secondary : 70
Special Teams : 70
Alabama
100 – 1
Arizona
300 – 1
Arizona St
50 – 1
Arkansas
60 – 1
Auburn
100 – 1
BYU
300 – 1
Boise St
100 – 1
Boston College
200 – 1
California
40 – 1
Clemson
100 – 1
Colorado
200 – 1
Florida
8 – 1
Florida St
30 – 1
Georgia
35 – 1
Georgia Tech
75 – 1
Hawaii
300 – 1
Iowa
100 – 1
Kansas St
300 – 1
LSU
6 – 1
Louisville
20 – 1
Maryland
300 – 1
Miami FL
30 – 1
Michigan
8 – 1
Missouri
25 – 1
Nebraska
40 – 1
North Carolina St
300 – 1
Notre Dame
60 – 1
Ohio St
30 – 1
Oklahoma
12 – 1
Oklahoma St
50 – 1
Oregon
50 – 1
Oregon St
300 – 1
Penn St
40 – 1
Pittsburgh
300 – 1
Purdue
300 – 1
Rutgers
75 – 1
South Carolina
75 – 1
South Florida
100 – 1
TCU
100 – 1
Tennessee
45 – 1
Texas
10 – 1
Texas A&M
60 – 1
Texas Tech
300 – 1
UCLA
35 – 1
USC
5 – 2
Virginia Tech
30 – 1
Wake Forest
300 – 1
West Virginia
8 – 1
Wisconsin
30 – 1
Field (Any Other Team)
100 – 1
