Wisconsin Football: Can Badgers reclaim Big Ten West in 2019?

How will the Badgers fare in 2019?

The Wisconsin Badgers are looking to rebound in 2019. Injuries derailed their 2018 season, and they look set to reload in a wide open Big Ten West.

Teams like Nebraska are looking to make a leap, while Iowa and Northwestern are still very competitive football teams. The schedule has a tough outlook for the Badgers, with five home games over their first six games, and difficult road matchups against South Florida in the heat of August, Ohio State and Nebraska.

That goes along with home games against Michigan, Michigan State and Iowa.

• Week 1: at South Florida (W) — This game will be tough, and the heat of late August will make it a challenge for Badgers. That being said, I think the Bulls showed their true colors at the end of 2018, losing their last six games after a 7-0 start against bad competition.
• Week 2: Central Michigan (W) — The first of five straight home games, the Badgers start the season 2-0.
• Week 3: BYE
• Week 4: Michigan (L) — A tough and ugly contest against Michigan results in the Badgers first loss of the season.
• Week 5: Northwestern (W) — Badgers squeak out a win against a competitive Northwestern team. If Jack Coan wins the starting job, this is where he could lose it if he struggles, giving Graham Mertz a week against Kent State to prepare for the rest of the Big Ten schedule.
• Week 6: Kent State (W) — Kent State ranked 115th in offensive rating last season, that was their best rating in five years. Jonathan Taylor will get his yards in this one against the 121st ranked defense in 2018.
• Week 7: Michigan State (W) — Michigan State was 112th in offense and second in defense, so you can imagine how this game will go. Le’veon Bell isn’t walking through that door, though. Badgers win 6-3.
• Week 8: at Illinois (W) — Illinois is 4-23 in the last three years in Big Ten play, two of those wins against Rutgers. Badgers are rolling at 6-1.
• Week 9: at Ohio State (L) — At 6-1, this is where the schedule gets tough for the Badgers, with four tough games in their last five. While I’m not convinced you can replace Urban Meyer and still be great, I think Ohio State’s talent wins out in this one.
• Week 10: BYE
• Week 11: Iowa (W) — This could be the swing game for the Badgers, with the Big Ten West still wide open. Badgers win another close one at home.
• Week 12: at Nebraska (L) — Difficult road game against a Nebraska team with a lot of hype. Adrian Martinez is the difference maker, giving the Badgers three conference losses on the season.
• Week 13: Purdue (W) — Badgers bounce back at home against the Boilermakers. One of the best games of the year in 2018, a three overtime thriller won by the Badgers. Purdue lost to Eastern Michigan last season but also beat three ranked teams. Badgers can’t overlook this game at a tough spot in the schedule.
• Week 14: at Minnesota (W) — They take back the axe after an embarrassing performance last season. Wisconsin avoids committing four turnovers in this one and win by a touchdown on the road, winning the Big Ten West.

Prediction: 9-3, 6-3 Big Ten

Winning back the Big Ten West will be tough this season, with questions at quarterback and the programs around them continuing to improve. The Badgers will finish second in the West.