Ohio State Football: Big Ten Preseason Predictions
By Alex Austin
Big Ten West Champion
Wisconsin (10-2)
Could it be anyone other than Wisconsin? The Badgers struggled with a host of issues in 2020 and were still in contention toward the end of the season. Being able to have a better grasp on managing COVID, getting their best players back from injury, and having a full offseason to prepare will be more than enough to create the typical juggernaut.
One of the biggest concerns with Wisconsin is finding their running game again. Last year the Badgers struggled to get elite production on the ground, but Wisconsin has been producing elite running backs for so long that few believe this will be a long-standing issue.
Behind another impressive defense and a sound running game, the Badgers will go as far as Graham Mertz will take them. Mertz may not be the best quarterback in the Big Ten, but he has more than enough talent to do what needs to be done.
The Badgers have a difficult non-conference matchup against Notre Dame, and they may lose a game that they shouldn’t, but other than that they will be involved in some physical battles where their skill level will put them over the top. Welcome back to Indy.