Wisconsin Football: 2017 game-by-game predictions
By Shane Lunnen
Paul Bunyan’s Axe will be on the line for the oldest rivalry in FBS football. Wisconsin has dominated this series lately, winning 13 years in a row and with a win in 2017 can take their first lead in the series ever.
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Minnesota hired PJ Fleck as their new head coach shortly after last season ended. Fleck turned Western Michigan around from a one-win team in his first season to a 13-win team last year and MAC champion. Fleck and the Broncos lost to Wisconsin in last year’s Cotton Bowl.
At quarterback, Mitch Leidner is gone and there is a battle between Conor Rhoda and Demry Croft for the position. The Gophers also do not have a lot of experience returning with the receivers. Early on in the season, the Gophers will rely on their 1-2 punch at running back, Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks.
The defense last year in Minnesota was great, ranking 21st overall in the country in total defense. All three linebackers are back, led by senior Jonathan Celestin, and they will be a Gopher strength. Defensive tackle Steven Richardson is a workhorse in the interior defensive line and he’ll look to disrupt opposing offenses for the linebackers to go to work. The secondary is young but powerful, led by sophomore Antoine Winfield Jr. He had 52 tackles last year and returned an interception 82 yards for a touchdown against Maryland.
At some point, the Wisconsin winning streak will come to an end in this rivalry. However with Wisconsin looking to bounce back from the Michigan loss and a trip to Indianapolis in sight, the streak continues this year. Minnesota hangs tough for awhile in this one, but Wisconsin pulls away in the end.
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Final: Minnesota 17, Wisconsin 28 (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten)
Wisconsin finishes the year with 11 wins and heads to Indianapolis to take on the Big Ten East champion again. It’s looking like it will be Ohio State, which if it is, that should be a fantastic match-up. If Wisconsin can win the Big Ten championship this year, they may find themselves in the playoff for the first time.