Wisconsin Football: 2017 game-by-game predictions
By Shane Lunnen
After two relatively easy games at home, a trip to Provo to take on BYU will be a step up in competition.
Taysom Hill is gone so under center this season will be Tanner Mangum and he has a lot of experience. When Hill was hurt in 2015, Mangum stepped in and recorded 3,300 yards passing with 23 touchdown passes. He took a backseat last year with Hill healthy, but now is ready to take control of the team. He won’t have the school’s all time leading rusher as Jamaal Williams has departed. In Williams’ place are Squally Canada and KJ Hall.
In 2016, the Cougars had one of the better defenses in the country, only allowing 19.5 points per game. They were going to have their top three tacklers from last year’s team at linebacker, however it was reported by the Salt Lake Tribune that Francis Bernard wants to transfer out of the program.
While that will be a blow, the Cougar secondary also must improve this year. Last season they ranked 96th in the country in passing yards allowed. They’ll have to find a way to replace safety Kai Nacua, who led BYU in interceptions in 2016 with six.
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The game will be a little closer than most expect. Mangum leads the Cougars down the field early for two quick touchdown scores before Wisconsin knows what hit them. They will bounce back with a touchdown and a couple field goals before halftime. In the second half, the Badgers make the adjustments needed and score touchdowns on consecutive drives. BYU hits back with another touchdown drive of their own, but Wisconsin salts away the game with long drives and adds a couple more field goals.