Wisconsin Football: 5 bold predictions for the 2017 season
4. Badgers fall to BYU in Week 3
Despite all the talk and discussion about the Badgers’ favorable schedule this year, the team still has one of the more tougher tests in the non-conference slate than a lot of the other Big Ten teams.
After two home games against Utah State and Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic, the Badgers will head west to Provo, Utah to face the dangerous BYU Cougars.
It will be the Badgers’ first ever trip to LaVell Edward Stadium and third meeting ever against the Cougars. Wisconsin took care of BYU back in 2013 in Camp Randall by a score of 27-17.
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Wisconsin hasn’t had a road trip “out west” since 2013 when they fell to Arizona State 32-30 in one of the most controversial college football games in this decade. Since 2002, the Badgers are 5-2 in west coast road trips, but have lost their last two against Arizona State and Oregon State (10-7) in 2012.
BYU is fresh off a very impressive 9-4 season and a Poinsettia Bowl victory over the Wyoming Cowboys. Being an independent program, the Cougars love to fill up their schedule year in and year out with top-tier power five schools and often end up beating or coming close to taking down so highly ranked opponents. The Cougars started last season 1-3, with their three losses to Utah, UCLA, and West Virginia coming by a combined seven points.
The Cougars have also had some success against the Big Ten Conference in recent years. Since the meeting between the Cougars and Badgers in 2013, BYU has won two out of three games against the Big Ten- with victories over Nebraska and Michigan State on the road.
The Badgers’ defense will be tested in week three against a prolific west-coast offense. An early season test of this magnitude can road well for the Badgers entering the Big Ten schedule, but a loss could be detrimental if they wish to make the College Football Playoff.
Even if the Badgers do slip up against the Cougars, there is a lot of season remaining to play catch up and everyone knows a strong finish is a lot better than a strong start.