2008 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview

2008 Wisconsin Badgers season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Wisconsin Badgers football preview as well as the 2008 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 (3rd year at Wisconsin)
Team Name: Badgers
2007 Overall Record: 9-4
Returning Starters: 17

Last season, the Wisconsin Badgers (9-4 overall, 5-3 Big Ten) finished tied for fourth in the conference, having lost to Illinois, Penn State and OSU. The club met the Tennessee in the Outback Bowl, losing to the Volunteers 21-17.

The Badgers will be running more than passing. The Wisconsin offensive line returns all of its starters. It’s a tough, seasoned and athletic group. The running back spot features junior P.J. Hill (233 CAR, 1,212 YDS, 14 TDs), who in two seasons has racked up 29 touchdowns and 2,805 yards. The backs are deep and speedy on this team and include Zach Brown, Lance Smith and John Clay. Last season the team averaged 200.8 ground yards per game, making them 21st nationally and second in the conference. Whoever is at QB—either senior Allan Evridge or junior Dustin Sherer—will be starting their first college game ever. The wide receiver spot is lacking but senior Travis Beckum (75 REC, 982 YDS, 6 TDs) at TE is one of the best in the nation.

In 2007, the defensive unit struggled, allowing 222.5 yards in the air and 134.1 yards on the ground. This spring 12 defensive players could not participate in camp due to injury, including five starters. Two corners, two tackles and an end were out. It’s unsure if many of those injured on the defensive unit will be ready to start when the season opens. If the “D” can get healthy, Wisconsin should field a better-than-average line, middle and secondary.

Will these Badgers go undefeated? Key games include when the club visits Michigan on September 27 and home contests versus Ohio State on October 4 and Illinois on October 25. Any of those can go either way with the back-to-back Wolverine-Buckeye contests being especially taxing.

Coach Bret Bielema (21-5 in two years and overall) is starting just his third season ever as a head coach and his third as the Badgers’ main man. There’s a fine veteran squad returning but health is certainly a concern. Wisconsin has a very tough schedule and they’ll need every man healthy if they expect to contend for the top spot in the Big Ten.

Wisconsin Badgers Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
Aug 30	Akron	Home
Sep 6	Marshall	Home
Sep 13	Fresno State	Away
Sep 27	Michigan	Away
Oct 4	Ohio St	Home
Oct 11	Penn St	Home
Oct 18	Iowa	Away
Oct 25	Illinois	Home
Nov 1	Michigan State	Away
Nov 8	Indiana	Away
Nov 15	Minnesota	Home
Nov 22	Cal Poly	Home

 

For more info on the 2008 Wisconsin Badgers football program, view their official website or read up on the rest of the Big Ten foes below.