2009 Wisconsin Badgers College Football Predictions

2009 Wisconsin Badgers Predictions
2008 Record: (7-6, 3-5)
Coach: Brent Bielema, 4th year (28-11 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Paul Chryst (5th year)
Def. Coordinator: Dave Doeren (2nd year)
Returning Starters: 13 (6 offense, 5 defense, punter, kicker)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: Yes (Dustin Sherer)

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Offense: The offense starts with quarterback Dustin Sherer, who shared the position last year with Allan Evridge. Sherer went 4-3 as the starter last season, throwing for 1,389 yards. He’s solid but unspectacular. At running back, sophomore John Clay (6-2, 247) replaces TB P.J. Hill and there shouldn’t be much of a decline. Clay rushed for 884 yards last season and has junior Zach Brown (5-11, 208) as the change-of-pace back. They return senior TE Garrett Graham (6-4, 248), who is the leading returning receiver with 540 yards receiving. Junior David Gilreath paced the wideouts with 31 catches last season and is also a dangerous runner. The line is usually the strength of the Badgers and once again that should be the case, despite rueturning just two starters. Junior LT Gabe Carimi (6-8, 313) has a chance to be a star, center John Moffitt (6-4, 313) is solid, while the rest of the line should mature after a year of experience as backups or part-time starters.

Defense: Wisconsin returns five starters on defense and it all starts on the defensive front where they return just one starter. Senior O’Brien Schofield (6-3, 242) is the loneman back and he provides some pass rush (five sacks). He gets help from freshman Brendan Kelly (6-6, 240), who missed most of last year (thumb), while Central Michigan transfer J.J. Watt (6-6, 285) has the ability to play inside or out. At linebacker, senior Jaevery McFadden (6-3, 226) is the leading returning tackler with 84. He’s also the only returning starter, while the rest of the unit is serviceable. The defensive backfield is anchored by junior CB Niles Brinkley, who recorded four interceptions last year. They also return sophomore corner Aaron Henry, who sat out last season with an ACL injury.

Outlook: The Badgers open with Northern Illinois, Fresno State and Wofford at home, followed by a conference game against Michigan State-also at home. That’s a pretty winnable schedule, though it gets tougher with games at Ohio State on the road and they ended at Hawaii. This is one of the easier schedules in the Big 10 and should easily be enough to get them back to a minor bowl game and maybe more.

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