Wisconsin Badgers 2017 NCAA Football Preview

College Football Predictions – Wisconsin Badgers 2017 NCAA Football Preview

2016 Recap

2016 Record – 11-3

2016 ATS – 10-3-1

They just keep on rolling, baby.

The Badgers reeled off another 10+ win season and came really close to winning the Big 10 Championship. They finished up at 11-3 and all three of their losses were by just seven points AND against really good teams (Ohio St, Michigan, Penn St). Wisconsin fans were obviously disappointed with the loss to Penn St, but looking on the bright side, this program keeps chugging along with no signs of slowing down. Old school football still works, yo.

2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating

Big 10 – TBD

West Division – TBD

OFFENSE

Wisconsin will use a familiar recipe in 2017. Run the ball. Run it again. The offensive line looks fantastic on paper and will look even better getting off the bus as they are yuuuuuge. The Badgers lose their top-2 rushers from a season ago including star Corey Clement (1,375, 15 TD), but you know as well as we do, they just reload. Bradrick Shaw and Chris James will likely be the top choices in the backfield and we expect one (or both) of them to have great seasons. Wisconsin was ranked 3rd in the Big 10 in rushing (203 / game) a season ago and we think they are capable of 230+ in 2017.

The Badgers won 11 games last year with freshman Alex Hornibrook getting most of the reps last season at QB. He only threw for 9 TD passes vs 7 INT but we feel he will improve a lot in his second season given the safety blanket of a great running game and offensive line. #1 WR Jazz Peavy is back along with future NFL TE Troy Fumagalli.

DEFENSE

The Badgers have ranked 7th and 2nd in total defense in the FBS the past two seasons and have been especially impressive stopping the run. Wisconsin has ANOTHER new DC (Jim Leonhard) that will try to continue the tradition of excellence. Seven starters are back this season including 3/3 on the defensive line. Leading tackler LB TJ Edwards is back in the fold but they will miss LB TJ Watt who tallied 11.5 sacks last year. The secondary will feature two new starters and will be without excellent CB Sojourn Shelton (4 INT, 12 PBU, 2nd Team Big 10). This still feels like a top-10 FBS defense as long as they keep opposing passing games under wraps. Penn St showed what you can do vs that Badger defense, but to be fair, there are not too many QBs like Trace McSorley on the docket in 2017.

SPECIAL TEAMS

This feels like a middle-of-the-road group. PK Rafael Gaglianone is solid but they need to do better in the punting game (#114 net punting FBS in 2016) and on returns.

Potential ATS Trouble Spot

November 4 – at Indiana. This game precedes a critical three-game stretch (Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota) and may be a look ahead spot.

MEGAmazing Tidbits

The last time the Badgers allowed more than 22 points per game was 2008 (26.5).

MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 6.5

MEGALOCKS says:

Overall, we give the BADGERS a 6.5 ATS Value Rating (Above Average) this season.

Wisconsin looks poised for another really good season. They have to be considered the favorites in the Big 10 West, but to be fair, there are a few other teams good enough to make things really interesting. Everything is in place for your typical Wisconsin steamroller. Now they just have to deliver.

The Badgers are a team you can rely upon when trying to find winners against the point spread. They have only had ONE (!) losing season ATS since 2008 despite going though multiple head coaches, coordinators and quarterbacks. HC Paul Chryst is 17-9-1 (65%) (!) ATS in his time in Madison, and while you can make the case for “regression” vs Vegas, the cold truth is that DEGENERATE NATION often strays away from teams that just “win” in a “boring” fashion. We feel comfortable in giving them an endorsement.

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