Wisconsin Football: 3 bold predictions for 2020 opener vs. Illinois

Illinois and Wisconsin football open the 2020 Big Ten season on Friday night in Madison. What could we expect from this rematch of a 2019 upset?

This is the game that every Big Ten fan has been waiting for. No, not because Wisconsin vs. Illinois is suddenly some must-see TV, but rather because it’s the kickoff to the conference’s 2020 regular season.

Friday night features a rematch of last season’s massive upset that took place in Champaign  as the Illini stormed back from a 20-7 deficit to beat the Badgers as time expired 24-23. Wisconsin was ranked No. 6 at the time and was looking like a playoff contender. To say that loss hurt would be a massive understatement.

Now Wisconsin opens the season as the No. 14 team in the country and Illinois is trending in the right direction after making a bowl last season.

What could we see take place on Friday night in the Big Ten opener?

3. Nakia Watson rushes for 100 yards

It’s never easy to replace a starting running back but at Wisconsin, it’s been almost seamless for decades even though the Badgers have fielded some all-time greats.

Now, replacing Jonathan Taylor is a different scenario.

The All-American running back was one of the best in college football history, rushing for over 6,000 yards in his career, so it’s obvious that replacing him will put some serious pressure on whoever is “next man up”.

That man, in my opinion, will be Nakia Watson, a former four-star recruit and sophomore.

As a freshman, the Austin, Texas, native rushed for 331 yards and two touchdowns on 4.5 yards per touch behind Taylor. He may have to split carries with Garrett Groshek on Friday, but he’ll quickly prove to be the more effective runner.

Watson will finish with over 100 yards in his first real action as the Badgers’ next running back.