Triple Option Attack: #12 Wisconsin

Next up on the Triple Option Attack is #12 Wisconsin

Music to listen to: Jet Airliner by The Steve Miller Band

My dear frined back in the NYC, Jennifer K., wanted to hear some Jet Airliner so she wins the contest.  I had a lot of choices from Steve Miller. Between 1974-78, he released Jungle Love, Fly Like an Eagle, Take the Money and Run, Jet Airliner, Rock’N Me, The Joker and a lot of other hits. That may be the most underrated run of great music from a rock artist that I can think of over a period of a few years. Good stuff plus he went to the school that is the focus of this post.

The Story: Prior to Barry Alvarez arriving at Madison in 1990, the Badgers hadn’t won a Big Ten title since 1962. He won three over a six-year period. Furthermore, he led Wisconsin to three Rose Bowl game victories as well. Replacing any legend, especially at a place with success tied to that one person, is difficult but Bret Bielema has done a solid job running the program since 2006. With a light schedule on paper and coming off a 10-win season with a good amount of starters returning, especially on offense, Wisconsin fans are optimistic for another Big Ten title and maybe even more.

Last Season: Finished the season with a record of 10-3, including a victory over Miami in the Champ Sports Bowl. The losses were of more concern when reviewing the season. All three losses came in Big Ten contests with dropped contests at Ohio State, at Northwestern and to Iowa. If you add Penn State, those are the four main teams that Wisconsin will have to contend with for the Big Ten this season.

Offense: Since the arrival of Alvarez, Wisconsin has used a pro-set offense that rushes the ball the majority of the time. This philosophy hasn’t changed and the Badgers have another elite running back in the fold with Heisman Trophy candidate John Clay.

He will have the fortune of running behind an offensive line that returns all of its starters including potential All-Americas, guard John Moffitt and tackle Gabe Carimi.

The receiving group is adequate, which is all it needs to be for Wisconsin.

The main question is whether quarterback Scott Tolzien can elevate his play in the more important games on the schedule. The Badgers had the top offense in the Big Ten last season but put up a majority of those numbers against overmatched opponents. Tolzien must make the proper throws when needed to relieve the opposing defenses off of the rushing attack.

Defense: The defense is similar to the offense in that its been operating under the same scheme for years and has been just as consistent in that period.

It will be led by elite strong safety Jay Valai and linebacker Chris Borland, who won the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award last season.

The Badgers return a majority of its linebackers and secondary but must find a way to rush the quarterback from the defensive line with the loss of end O’Brien Schofield.

The Schedule

Sept. 4 at UNLV

Sept. 11 San Jose State

Sept. 18 Arizona State

Sept. 25 Austin Peay

Oct. 2 at Michigan State

Oct. 9 Minnesota

Oct. 16 Ohio State

Oct. 23 at Iowa

Nov. 6 at Purdue

Nov. 13 Indiana

Nov. 20 at Michigan

Nov. 27 Northwestern

If all comes together, the Big Ten title may come down to a two week period of hosting Ohio State and then traveling to Iowa. If Wisky wins both of those games, than an undefeated regular season is possible. The only other game that may be of concern is at Purdue because it’s a road conference game. The Badgers also seem to struggle in its early non-conference home games over the years against foes like Fresno State and Bowling Green, which means the San Jose State game may cause drama as well.

Most Famous Sports Alum: The list is decent but I’ll go with the commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bud Selig. I think he has done a below-average job but he’s known and that’s the purpose of this section.

　

Celebrity Alum “Crush:” This was a decent list but I’ll go with Tamara Braun, who has been on soap operas such as General Hospital and Days of Our Lives.

Prediction: 10-2

Wisconsin should win all of its games accept the two big games against Iowa and Ohio State. The difficulty of that for the Badgers’ aspirations is that they can’t slip up against a lesser foe on its schedule.

Sports Inquirer Top-25 Preseason College Football Poll:

#25 West Virginia

#24 South Carolina

#23 Auburn

#22 Oregon State

#21 Arkansas

#20 Florida State

#19 Georgia

#18 North Carolina

#17 Georgia Tech

#16 LSU

#15 Pittsburgh

#14 Penn State

#13 Miami