2009 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview
2009 Wisconsin Badgers season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Wisconsin Badgers football preview as well as the 2009 Wisconsin Badgers Football Schedule. Dont miss Maddux's free college football picks on the weekly college football odds from the #1 sports handicapping team.
Coach: Bret Bielema (4th year at Wisconsin)
Team Name: Badgers
2008 Overall Record: 7-6
Returning Starters: 11
In 2008, the Wisconsin Badgers (7- 8 overall, 3- 5 Big Ten) tied for sixth in the Big Ten and went on to play the Florida State Seminoles in the Champs Sports Bowl. The Badgers lost to the Noles 13- 42. That loss gave Wisconsin a 10- 10 record in bowl contests.
Last season, Badger QBs tossed 11 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. That stat has to change for this team to be successful. In starting the final seven games of 2008, QB Dustin Sherer (191 ATT, 157 COMP, 1,389 YDs, 5 INTs, 6 TDs) put up terrible stats, played unevenly and was sacked 20 times. Redshirt freshman Curt Phillips could become this season’s starter if Sherer cannot make needed adjustments. TE Garrett Graham (40 REC, 540 YDs, 5 TDs) and WR David Gilreath (31 REC, 520 YDs, 3 TDs) look to be his favorite targets. Last year, Wisconsin’s running game was the best in the Big Ten and 14th in the nation, gaining an average of 211.2 YPG. P.J. Hill, the club’s top rusher with 1,161 yards and 13 scores is gone, but sophomore John Clay (155 CAR, 895 YDs, 9 TDs) and junior Zach Brown (55 CAR, 307 YDs, 3 TDs) are primed to keep the ground attack churning. The frontline has some able anchors and if it can gel will be a huge asset.
While the Badger offense averaged 27.5 PPG, the defense held opponents to 26.5 PPG, leaving little margin for error. The “D” was 44th nationally on stopping both the pass and run. The biggest problem last season was the line, which lacked depth. That situation should be improved as the D-line is definitely deeper and more skilled. In 2008, the linebacking unit was hampered by injuries. WLB Jaevery McFadden (84 TKLs) led the team in takedowns. He’ll serve as the foundation of the linebacking unit. Junior corner Niles Brinkley notched four picks and had 40 tackles last season. Overall, the success of the defense is dependent upon the frontline.
Special teams includes the long leg of field goal kicker Philip Welch who was good on 20 of 24 field goals, including a 52-yard effort and the able work of punter Brad Norman who averaged 41.8 YPP. Gilreath was the primary return guy, averaging 19.6 yards on kicks and 8.8 yards on punts. Those numbers need to improve.
Head coach Bret Bielema (28- 11 in three years with Wisconsin) managed a 12- 1 record in his initial season with the Badgers. But in the past two seasons, Wisconsin has been in a slump, garnering a 9- 4 mark in 2007 and a 7- 6 record in 2008. Under Bielema, the team has lacked consistency. The Badgers have a favorable schedule in 2009 that includes Northern Illinois, Fresno State and Wofford. They finish the season in Hawaii on December 5, which should be another “W.” Additionally, Penn State is not on the docket but Big Ten opponents Purdue, Indiana and Northwestern are. Look for Wisconsin to end the season in sixth or seventh place and on the way to a lower tier bowl game.
Wisconsin Badgers Football Schedule
| Date | Team | Opponent | Site | Line | Total | Points | Opp Points |
| 9/5/2009 | Wisconsin | Northern Illinoi | home | ||||
| 9/12/2009 | Wisconsin | Fresno St. | home | ||||
| 9/19/2009 | Wisconsin | Wofford | home | ||||
| 9/26/2009 | Wisconsin | Michigan St. | home | ||||
| 10/3/2009 | Wisconsin | Minnesota | away | ||||
| 10/10/2009 | Wisconsin | Ohio St. | away | ||||
| 10/17/2009 | Wisconsin | Iowa | home | ||||
| 10/31/2009 | Wisconsin | Purdue | home | ||||
| 11/7/2009 | Wisconsin | Indiana | away | ||||
| 11/14/2009 | Wisconsin | Michigan | home | ||||
| 11/21/2009 | Wisconsin | Northwestern | away | ||||
| 12/5/2009 | Wisconsin | Hawaii | away |
For more info on the 2009 Wisconsin Badgers football program, view their official website or read up on the rest of the Big Ten foes below.
