** 2020 Opponent Previews : Wisconsin (Game 2) **

Saunders

Saunders

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CollegeFootballNews: Wisconsin Schedule Breakdown & Predictions

Best Case Scenario

11-1: The Badgers dodge the landmines early on against Indiana and Appalachian State, and then at least split the dates away from Camp Randall against Michigan in Ann Arbor and against Notre Dame in Green Bay. After getting Minnesota at home in early October – instead of the end of the regular season – there’s a week off to go on a run. Three of the next four games are on the road, but they’re all against teams that didn’t go bowling last year. They beat Nebraska, survive Iowa in Iowa City, and they’re off to the Big Ten Championship again.

Worst Case Scenario

7-5: There are a few too many misfires. They can’t deal with a razor-sharp Appalachian State team, they lose both games against Michigan and Notre Dame, and they sputter with one of the patented multi-turnover games against a Northwestern or Purdue. They’re going to be way too good to dip below seven wins, but they’re also-rans who close out with a thud against Nebraska and/or against Iowa.

https://collegefootballnews.com/2020/01/wisconsin-football-schedule-2020-prediction-breakdown-analysis
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CBSSports: No. 12 Wisconsin leaning on defense in 2020 Big Ten championship race

Wisconsin enters the 2020 season with a handful of questions that weren't able to be answered in spring practice, but the consistent level of success we've seen from the program in the last decade and the trajectory it's taken under the leadership of Paul Chryst have the Badgers back in the mix as a Big Ten title contender this fall. 

Not even the loss of superstar running back Jonathan Taylor can quell the title talk around Madison, as replacing a legend will fall on the responsibility of many. Nakia Watson and Garrett Groshek will share some of the carries early, but what's expected to be a committee approach has opened the door for a number of young players to take a stab at contributing to the Badgers' ground efforts. 

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/preseason-top-25-no-12-wisconsin-leaning-on-defense-in-2020-big-ten-championship-race/
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Athlon: #12 Wisconsin Preview & Prediction

Wisconsin won 10 games last season and returned to the Rose Bowl for the first time in seven years, offering proof that the Badgers’ 8–5 mark the previous season was a blip and not a sign of regression. But repeating as Big Ten West champs in 2020 will be a challenge because the Badgers have to replace their five best players: Three underclassmen on offense left early for the NFL, while a pair of outstanding seniors are gone on the other side of the ball. Head coach Paul Chryst and his staff have put together some solid recruiting classes, but a program that prides itself on development will be put to the test in that area. “It’s a good group,” Chryst says. “But guys have to emerge if we’re going to be [special].”

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/wisconsin-football-badgers-prediction-preview-2020
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The Athletic: After years of steady success, is Wisconsin ready to make the next step?

Scan the list of the most successful Power 5 college football programs over the past five seasons, and Wisconsin emerges in a unique position among the sport’s hierarchy. Few schools can match the consistency with which the Badgers have played since Paul Chryst became head coach before the 2015 season. They have won 52 games, advanced to three Big Ten championships and played in three New Year’s Six bowl games.

Only five Power 5 programs have won more games during that stretch: Clemson (69), Alabama (66), Ohio State (61), Oklahoma (58) and Georgia (54). And yet, there is a distinct difference in that group compared to Wisconsin: Each of those five programs has qualified for the College Football Playoff at least once. Collectively, they have made 16 Playoff appearances in that time. Alabama and Ohio State also appeared in the inaugural Playoff in 2014.

https://theathletic.com/1893319/2020/07/09/wisconsin-badgers-football-roster-depth-charts-schedule-state-of-the-program/?source=emp_shared_article
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More to come...

 
Last edited by a moderator:
To date, 42 Wisconsin football players and staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. The health department issued this statement:

Public Health Madison & Dane County recommends that UW students and people in Dane County do not gather with others to watch Badger football games. The decision to hold the football season right now has wide-reaching impacts beyond athlete and student safety and will impact the health and safety of many people in Dane County. We strongly urge everyone to prioritize the health and wellbeing of all people in their decision-making.

“Of course it’s disappointing that something as well-loved as gathering to watch Badger football games can’t happen this year,” said Janel Heinrich, Director of Public Health Madison & Dane County. “But the reality is that it’s not possible to have a traditional football season without substantially increasing COVID-19 transmission. We value people’s health and lives over sports, and we hope that UW does as well.”

“We’ve already seen a record number of cases from the UW campus just from students moving in,” said Joe Parisi, Dane County Executive. "While we all love our football Saturdays, the festivities that come with them are going to serve as new spreading events within our community. We have a lot of sick UW students right now - 88% of those who have tested positive are reporting symptoms - and this is before the weather gets colder and flu season arrives."

Because so many people gather to celebrate and watch Badger games, it is likely that a Badger football season would spread COVID-19 to not only UW-Madison students, but also to people from all over Dane County.

"The increase in cases we are seeing is predominantly due to parties. Adding football parties into this mix is only going to make the situation worse," said Satya Rhodes-Conway, City of Madison Mayor.  
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https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/statement-about-decision-to-hold-badger-football-games

 
Toe said:
To date, 42 Wisconsin football players and staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. The health department issued this statement:

https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/statement-about-decision-to-hold-badger-football-games
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This article sure seems to imply that UW football will (or should) be blamed for any further spikes in cases in Dane County, during the upcoming season, rather than putting the responsibility on the adults who choose to gather at watch-parties.  To me, based on the tone of the article, county health officials are saying that fans who gather just can't help themselves and they shouldn't be held responsible...it's those damned football teams.  

Maybe I'm reading it with the wrong tone?

 
I think most people here are on board with football, there's just a good chunk in Madison that are upset about any deviation from locking things down until the pandemic is over. I don't expect a football related spike bigger than the students returning spike we already have. They haven't handled it super well, and football is a convenient scapegoat if the numbers stay bad.

 
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