Spartan Nation 2010 Spring Football Scouting Report: Wisconsin Badgers
2009 Actual Season Record:Â 9-3
Spartan Nation Predicted 2009 Regular Season Record:Â 8-4Â
Predicted 2010 record:Â 10-2 (6-2)
Projected Big Ten 2010 Standing: 3rd         Â
Head Coach:Â Brett Bielema
What went right in 2009? A lot went right for the Badgers. Coach Bielema has faced some ignorant criticism from the fans and once again he produced. The Badgers had the highest scoring offense in the league and fifth in points allowed for the season.
The Badgers also had the #1 rushing defense in league play (fifth nationally) holding their Big Ten opponents to a paltry 72 ypg. an incredible accomplishment.
What went wrong in 2009? If you include the bowl game, the Badgers had a ten-win season. It is difficult to pick something going wrong, but there was one glaring weakness for the Badgers: their down field long range passing attack.
If you were to analyze the stats you would see they were among the best in pass efficiency, but those are deceiving. The Wisconsin running game is so good that they only would use the short pass. If the Badgers can develop a down the field threat, in 2010 they will be even better. Many thought they had the threat, but didn’t show it enough to make teams have to plan against and for it.
Analysis: The Badgers return 18 starters with an amazing ten of them on their potent offense. With QB Scott Tolzien, RB John Clay and their entire OL back, my prediction of a 10-2 regular season may be low.
How is this program trending? Very well. Bielema has taken unfair criticism from Badger fans, but that doesn’t change the reality that they are a very good team and program. Bielema does things the right way, is a great guy, and a terrific football coach. Conventional wisdom says that Bielema is waiting for Kirk Ferentz to take the PSU job when JoePa retires so he can return to his alma mater Iowa.
I don’t think the Badgers can go on the road and beat Iowa. The Hawkeyes and the Badgers are so evenly matched that I give the edge to the Hawks only because they are at home. I also think the Badgers will give the Ohio State Buckeyes their biggest test of the year at Camp Randall Stadium, but in the end I think the Buckeyes offense will score enough to win.
 Both of those games are huge, and if the Badgers can win what I think will be close games, they could go undefeated.
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