2015
Wisconsin
College Football
Betting Preview
Schedule and Odds
Wisconsin has a new coach once again, but that shouldn’t change a whole lot with how the team is run. Paul Chryst is coming over from Pittsburgh, but he was Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator from 2005-11 so he’s familiar with the program. Much like a season ago, the Badgers will be favorites in the Big Ten West because it’s a weak division compared to the East. They have the third-best odds at 5 dimes sportsbook (+825) to win the entire Big Ten.
The Badgers lose Melvin Gordon on the offensive end, but not a whole lot is going to change with this group. Corey Clement did just fine stepping into Gordon’s role at times last year averaging 6.5 yards per carry and there’s no reason he won’t have a successful season. Joel Stave cemented his spot at quarterback in the spring, and whether that’s a good thing or not remains to be seen. Stave completed 53.4% of his passes for nine TDs and 10 INTs last season after Tanner McEvoy (now a safety) started the season. He’ll have the same crew to throw to with Alex Erickson returning, but Rob Wheelwright could become a factor at receiver after a solid spring.
The offensive line is a different issue with three guys leaving. They dealt with multiple injuries in the spring and the both lines gave up a total of 10 sacks in the spring scrimmage. Chryst mentioned after the Game that the group lacks depth, which is something that’ll need to improve before the season, especially if injuries remain a problem.
Defensively, the line is in a similar situation as the offensive side. They lack depth, but at least the back eight are doing just fine. The Badgers have one of the best secondaries in the Conference with plenty of experience around to go with McEvoy now a starter at safety. The linebackers are set as well with redshirt freshman T.J. Edwards filling in a previous hole in the middle.
The Badgers will probably have some trouble on their lines, but because of a favorable Schedule, that may not matter all that much just like last year. They lost their first Conference Game to Northwestern and then plowed through the rest of their Games before getting throttled by Ohio State in the title Game.
They open 2015 with another SEC team, but this time around it’s against Alabama. The Badgers sat as a 12.5-point underdog (at 5Dimes) in the spring. But once again, they’ll face weaker teams out of the Big Ten’s East as they get Rutgers and Maryland. Their toughest Games will come early in the Big Ten season, hosting Iowa and then travelling to Nebraska the next weekend. And in the final two Games, Wisconsin gets Northwestern and then Minnesota on the road.
If this team can get better quarterback play from Stave than a year ago, they should have the West locked up. Even if that’s not a guarantee, another nine or 10 wins is likely, as long as the offensive line doesn’t completely fall apart.
2015 Wisconsin Football Schedule
Sept. 5 vs. Alabama (AT&T Stadium)
Sept 12 vs. Miami (OH)
Sept. 19 vs. Troy
Sept. 26 vs. Hawaii
Oct. 3 vs. Iowa
Oct. 10 at Nebraska
Oct. 17 vs. Purdue
Oct. 24 at Illinois
Oct. 31 vs. Rutgers
Nov. 7 at Maryland
Nov. 21 vs. Northwestern
Nov. 28 at Minnesota