NCAA 2010 Top 25 Preview – #10 Wisconsin
In 2009 Wisconsin won its first five games before enduring back-to-back losses to Ohio State and
Iowa. The Badgers finished the season with an overall record of 10-3 and a Big 10 conference record of 5-3. After earning a trip to the Champs Sports Bowl, they capped their season off with a 20-14 win over Miami.
The primary reason for high expectations for the 2010 season is the return of last season’s Offensive Player of the Year, RB John Clay along with the entire offensive line that helped him gain 1,517 yards rushing as a sophomore. The Badger’s line is anchored by two preseason All American candidates; OT Gabe Carimi and OG John Moffitt. Both of these seniors could very well end up being players to watch in next year’s NFL draft.
QB Scott Tolzien is also back along with WR’s Nick Toon and Issac Anderson. Despite the fact that Wisconsin is primarily a running team, in 2009 Tolzien still threw for 2,705 yards and 16 TD’s and Toon led the team with 54 receptions for 805 yards. With opposing defenses putting so much attention on stopping Clay, this should open things up even more for the passing game in 2010.
While Wisconsin only returns six starters on defense, its entire linebacking corps and secondary remains basically intact. The big question for this team lies with the Badgers defensive line as DE J.J. Watt is the only returning starter from last season. One player to watch this season is All Conference S Jay Valai who is gaining a reputation as being one of the top playmakers in the Big 10 for his ball hawking skills.
Wisconsin’s odds to win a BCS title are pretty long at plus 4000, however it could be considered as one of the sleeper teams to win the Big 10 at plus 350. Iowa is also listed at plus 350 but Ohio State remains the prohibitive odds-on-favorite as minus 250 to win the conference and is currently tied with Alabama at plus 400 to win a national title.
If the Badgers have any design on winning the conference and making a legitimate run at a national title, one element of their schedule that is in their favor is that they do control their own destiny so to speak. They should be favored to win their first six games of the season as the toughest opponent they face is Michigan State on the road in Week 5. The real challenge begins on Saturday, October 16 when they host the Buckeyes. If they somehow pull off the upset in that game, they will have to do again the following week on the road against Iowa.
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