With three games left in the season, the Wisconsin Badgers are expected to make a bowl game this season after an fascinating year.
The Badgers entered the season with very high hopes, but received projections similar to what the team achieved in 2023. The Badgers finished last season with a record of 7-6 and fought difficult in the bowl game against LSU, but ultimately lost to eventual quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. While the 2024 season wasn’t exactly the same, the Wisconsin Badgers are expected to finish the season in a similar bowl with perhaps one more win.
The Wisconsin Badgers are currently expected to face the TCU Horned Frogs in the Guaranteed Bowl. The Horned Frogs are currently in a similar situation, with a 5-4 record and an up-and-down season. However, TCU has a very favorable schedule: two of its final three games will be against the Big 12 Conference’s two worst teams in Arizona and Oklahoma State.
TCU still has to play in Cincinnati as well, which could very well be a loss given the team’s competitiveness in terms of wins and losses this season. The Bearcats are probably two plays away from being 7-1, but they lost two close games due to impoverished clock management. However, both the Wildcats and Cowboys should be straightforward wins as both teams combined for just one conference win.
For the Wisconsin Badgers, unlike the TCU Horned Frogs, the remaining schedule is rather daunting as there are three teams the Badgers would probably prefer not to face.
Will the Wisconsin Badgers secure bowl eligibility given the remaining schedule?
First, the Badgers must face the top-ranked Oregon Ducks, who may be the last team Wisconsin wants to face at this point. Not only would the Badgers want to avoid playing the Ducks because of the play the team has played recently, but also because of Wisconsin’s recent play.
The Wisconsin Badgers allowed over 400 yards of total offense, including 329 yards rushing and five touchdowns on the ground. Quarterback Brendan Sullivan had just three incompletions against the Badgers defense and also ran for 58 yards and a score. The Hawkeyes averaged 7.7 yards per play against the Badgers defense, an ugly mark considering Iowa State’s previous defensive performance and inconsistent offense.
With their loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes still fresh in their minds, the Oregon Ducks are a team that can really tear the Badgers defense apart.
The remaining two Wisconsin Badgers games left on the schedule could be just as bad. The Nebraska Cornhuskers have been struggling lately due to deteriorating play on offense and freshman point guard Dylan Raiola. However, the Cornhuskers are a threatening team when the offense gains momentum, which seems very likely after Wisconsin’s recent defensive display.
Normal. This is a carbon copy of last year’s game for Wisconsin, where the team had to beat either Nebraska or Minnesota to qualify for a bowl game.
— Big Ten Ted (@BigTenTed) November 3, 2024
The final game of the season will be when Paul Bunyan’s Ax will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers. A match that always seems to mean more. However, the Golden Gophers finally started to get things going on offense, with point guard Max Brosmer leading the team. Minnesota is starting to look like a formidable team and not your mother’s Minnesota Golden Gophers.
While many may have a difficult time imagining the Wisconsin Badgers securing bowl eligibility, it appears that a likely victory will come against Nebraska. Wisconsin was in the exact same situation last season against the same opponents. Historically, Nebraska lost five straight games last season and was eliminated from the bowl game.
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