The second round of the wild blind dart-throwing predictions of Alabama opponents takes us to Mad-town where the town is pretty mad. But not the kind they usually are. Their Prince Charming savior is turning into a pumpkin.
GAME 2, SEP 13: WISCONSIN BADGERS
Head Coach: Luke Fickell (13–13, 8–10 after 2 seasons plus one game in 2022) has been a bit of an enigma. After serving many years as a top assistant at Ohio State, he became interim head coach for the Buckeyes after Jim Tressel finally got caught for his cheating-ass ways and was fired. Fickell went 6-7 in 2011 as an interim head coach, but he was not kept in that position. A miraculously healthy Urban Meyer would take over in Columbus and Fickell was demoted back to DC. After five years sucking up to Urbie, he took the head job at Cincinnati and had a great run, turning the Bearcats into a playoff team. Suddenly, he was the toast of the town. He took the opportunity to move up to the Wisky job. He served as interim coach in December 2022 and tallied a win in the Badgers’ bowl game. But the fairy tale ends there.
2024 Wisconsin record: 5-7 (3-6 in B1G, tied for 13th); No Bowl.
Looking back: Following Fickell’s first full UW season of 2023 (going 7-6 with a bowl loss), the Badgers recorded their first losing season since 2001, breaking their 23-year long bowl streak. The 2024 season started with a pair of two touchdown wins over cupcakes. But then Alabama came to town and smacked the Badgers in the jaw. Following a 15 point loss at Southern Cal, Wisconsin won three straight against the dregs of the B1G. At 5-2, all they needed was one measly win to get to a bowl. Instead, Wisky suffered five straight defeats, capped by a humiliating home loss to Minnesota.
Returning starters: 5 on offense, 7 on defense, punter and kicker.
Key losses: OT Jack Nelson (7th round, Falcons), leading tackler S/LB Hunter Wohler (7th round, Colts), OT Joe Huber, CB RJ Delancey, WR Bryson Green, leading rusher Tawee Walker (xfer to Cincy), starting QB Braedyn Locke (Arizona), starting until injured vs Bama QB Tyler Van Dyke (SMU), WR Will Pauling (Notre Dame), woulda been starters DLs Curt Neal and James Thompson (both to Illinois), EDGE Leon Lowery (also Illinois, no tampering there I am sure), DB Xavier Lucas (Miami-FL)
Top returnees: leading receiver/return man Vinny Anthony, WR Trech Kekahuna, OT Riley Mahlman, ILB Christian Alliegro, S Preston Zachman, P Atticus Bertrams (45.3 ypp), CB Ricardo Hallman, DT Ben Barten
Top newcomers: OC Jeff Grimes (BYU>Baylor>Kansas), projected starting QB Billy Edwards (Wake>Maryland), LT Davis Heinzen (3 year starter Central Michigan), WR Jayden Ballard (Ohio State), NT Parker Petersen (Tulane), DE Corey Walker (5.5 sacks at WMU)
Strengths: Fresh outlook to the offense… Offensive line returns three starters and adds a decent one at LT… experienced WRs… four returning starters in secondary… punt team is good… Kick/punt returner Anthony is dangerous…
Weaknesses: Losing RB Tawee Walker (Cincy) was painful and little baffling seeing how he would have been the feature back in this offense. Depth at RB is a big question mark… Starting 5 on the OL should be okay, but should anyone go down, UW is a-wafer thin… Placekicking was a little wobbly last year (12-19), but the starter is back… Stopping the rush was a problem last season and it is uncertain whether Wisc has improved in that department… Can Wisky snap a string of disappointing incoming QB transfers (Tanner Mordecai, Tyler Van Dyke)?
Outlook: New OC Jeff Grimes brings back a familiar scheme to Madison. His wide zone offense aims to stretch defenses horizontally to create seams and cutback opportunities for the running backs, and then sprinkle in play-action passes. It is probably more fitting for the kinds of players that Wisconsin tends to have on the roster. However, it is questionable whether the Badgers have that Ron Dayne, Jonathan Taylor, Montee Ball, Melvin Gordon kind of back.
Maryland’s 2024 starting QB Billy Edwards has joined Wisconsin and should be the top man. In College Park last fall, he completed 65% of his passes for 2,881 yards which equated to 261.9 ypg (16th highest in FBS) for the Terps. However, he had only 15 passing TDs to go with 9 INTs and was sacked 17 times. This new offense should play into his game, but don’t expect a lot of explosive plays.
Thanks mostly to the transfer portal, the defensive front has gotten bigger with the goal of stopping the run. But putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks might be more of an issue.
Wisconsin was 105th in turnover margin (-6) a season ago. Have they done enough to improve?
Win Total Odds Per FanDuel
Over 5.5 Wins +138 (bet $100 to win $138)
Under 5.5 Wins -170 (bet $170 to win $100)
2025 WISCONSIN BADGERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:
OMG, Tony Petitti must hate Wisconsin. No Purdue, Northwestern, UCLA, Sparty, or Rutgers for Wisky. Instead, a four games stretch of @ Michigan, vs Iowa, vs Ohio State, @ Oregon without a break may be the toughest four week stretch for any team this season. They also have Indy, Illinois, and Minnesota to contend with.
Thu, Aug 28 vs Miami (OH) – W
Sat, Sep 6 vs Middle Tennessee – W
Sat, Sep 13 @ Alabama – L
Sat, Sep 20 vs Maryland – W – The Terps are going to be bad. Locks may be on his way out.
Sat, Sep 27 bye
Sat, Oct 4 @ Michigan – L – UM will be improved and the game is in the Big House.
Sat, Oct 11 vs Iowa – L – This is a tough one to swallow at home, but it’s the kind of game the Hawkeyes win.
Sat, Oct 18 vs Ohio State – L
Sat, Oct 25 @ Oregon – L
Sat, Nov 1 bye
Sat, Nov 8 vs Washington – W – Possible toss up but give da Badjuhs the home field advantage.
Sat, Nov 15 @ Indiana – L – It’s doubtful Indy gets back to the CFP but they will be a tough out. Plus, the game is in Bloomington.
Sat, Nov 22 vs Illinois – L – The Illini will not be as good as 2024, but still a solid team.
Sat, Nov 29 @ Minnesota – L – Wisky lost a heartbreaking home game to the Gophers last year and will have revenge on their minds. But PJ Fleck’s Golden Gophers have won three of the last four in this rivalry.
Oddly enough, the Badgers will be better this year than last. However, they have the misfortune of a murderous slate of games. I have Wisconsin at 4-8, but any of the Iowa, Indy, Illinois, or Minnie games could go either way. 5-7 seems more likely. Wisconsin will probably be one of FBS’s best teams with a losing record – probably better than many bowl teams.
Poll
Regular season wins for Wisconsin in 2025:
ALABAMA SCHEDULE PREVIEWS:
#NoCupcakes
Sat, Aug 30 @ Florida StateSat, Sep 6 vs UL Monroe
Sat, Sep 13 vs Wisconsin
Sat, Sep 27 @ Georgia
Sat, Oct 4 vs Vanderbilt
Sat, Oct 11 @ Missouri
Sat, Oct 18 vs Tennessee
Sat, Oct 25 @ South Carolina
Sat, Nov 8 vs LSU
Sat, Nov 15 vs OklahomaSat, Nov 22 vs Eastern Illinois
Sat, Nov 29 @ Auburn
