Note: projections will not include my predictions for the Big Ten basketball tournament, nor any March Madness predictions.
Follow paulmbanksA pair of seniors will be pivotal in the Badgers attempt to take down Ohio State
November 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Senior quarterback Curt Phillips will make his first and last start at Camp Randall when the Wisconsin Badgers welcome in the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes for Senior Day this weekend.
Overall, the Badgers have nine seniors taking part in the festivities, but it will be Phillips and star running back Montee Ball who will be expected to carry Wisconsin to victory. [Read more…]
Follow paulmbanksTaking a look at the Wisconsin Badgers past opponents this season
November 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
In order to determine where you’re at, sometimes you have to examine where you’ve been. It’s no different for the 2012 Wisconsin Badgers football team.
With the Badgers on a bye this past weekend, it’s only appropriate to check in with all the opponents they have played so far this season. [Read more…]
Follow paulmbanksWisconsin Badgers loss stings but not a season-ender
September 9, 2012 By 4 Comments
A shot at the National Championship Game is off the table, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the Wisconsin Badgers season is over.
Yes, they were outplayed in every facet of the game in a 10-7 loss to the Oregon State Beavers.
Bad play on the road is nothing new for the Badgers. Even Russell Wilson couldn’t save them from going 2-2 in true road games last season, including a game where they struggled to beat an Illinois team clearly not on the same level as them.
It might sound counter-intuitive, but there’s still a lot to like about this Badgers team. [Read more…]
Follow paulmbanksNotre Dame vs. Wisconsin in Football Soon?
August 30, 2012 By 2 Comments
In college basketball, they met last year in the title game of the Old Spice Classic. That was how the tournament played out, and not a pre-determined match-up between the Wisconsin Badgers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. When will see it again in football?
One of the strongest links between the two schools is current University of Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez, who was enshrined into the college football hall of fame earlier this month. Alvarez made the hall on the strength of his coaching career in Madison. However, he got the job because of the prowess he showed as a Defensive Coordinator in the 1980s at Notre Dame.
Follow paulmbanksNorthern Iowa vs. #12 Wisconsin Badgers: Brutally Honest Preview
August 30, 2012 By 1 Comment
For the seventh consecutive season, the Wisconsin Badgers will play a team from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) or otherwise known as your “cupcakes” of the college football world.
Even if the Northern Iowa Panthers are coming off a 10-3 season, it shouldn’t matter much to the Badgers who have obliterated FCS foes by an average of roughly 31 points per game.
What is unique about this game is the fact that the Panthers are visiting Camp Randall for the Badgers season opener and not the third or fourth game like teams from the FCS have commonly done in years before.
#14 Wisconsin Badgers: College Football 77 in 77
August 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment
With perennial Big Ten powers Ohio State and Penn State suffering through controversy and Michigan taking a step back for a couple of years, the Wisconsin Badgers have cemented their status among the league’s elite. Bret Bielema has transitioned from the Barry Alvarez Era without missing a beat. Another transfer quarterback steps under center in Madison, but it will be their always dangerous ground game that could have UW smelling roses for a third straight season.
Follow paulmbanks2012 Big Ten Power Rankings: post media day edition
July 29, 2012 By 1 Comment
These are highly subject to change. Brady Hoke remarked at Media Day that UM was picked fifth in their division a year ago; and just outside the top 25 in the year they won their last national title- 1997.
So maybe these rankings don’t really mean all that much? Of course, that won’t stop you from reading them and commenting, right?
Follow paulmbanksWisconsin Badgers comment on Penn State sanctions
July 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
It’s the topic everyone wants to talk about today, and for good reason- Penn State. The sanctions handed down by the NCAA and the Big Ten will dominate sports media today, and the talk of the league media days later this week. Now only four teams within the Leaders division are eligible for the league title game: Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, and Wisconsin.
Therefore, all four benefited from the ruling that made PSU in eligible. Of course, you won’t hear the Badgers say that of course. Here’s what the athletic department did have to say:
Follow paulmbanksHeisman Trophy finalist Montee Ball arrested for trespassing
May 5, 2012 By 2 Comments
Montee Ball returned to the Wisconsin Badgers for his senior season to further build on his already stellar legacy. Last season, Ball was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy as he tied Barry Sanders for the most touchdowns in NCAA single season history.
Early this morning however, Ball did something that won’t exactly help his legacy. This incident will only lead to notoriety, not fame.
Ball attended the Mifflin Street Block Party where he was on the wrong porch, and apparently just wouldn’t leave. He was arrested for trespassing.
Follow paulmbanksWisconsin Gets New Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada from Northern Illinois
January 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
You could make a case that Wisconsin had the greatest running back and quarterback tandem in college football history. Quarterback Russell Wilson broke the season passer rating record, and tailback Montee Ball tied the season record for touchdowns. The Badgers were the first team to ever have a player run for 30 TDs, and another player pass for 30 TDs.
Production like that will no doubt attract attention for the offensive coordinator, and Paul Chryst parlayed the astronomical numbers he generated into a new head coaching gig at Pittsburgh.
Today, Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema named Matt Canada his replacement.
Follow paulmbanks#19 Penn State Nittany Lions vs. #12 Wisconsin Badgers: Brutally Honest Preview
November 26, 2011 By 4 Comments
I understand why Tom Bradley was chosen as interim successor to Joe Paterno, but he really isn’t the warm and cuddly face the University needs right now. At a time when the program should be showing great humility, Bradley has been anything but. He’s only making more people hate PSU.
But who really cares about him as he’s gone in two games anyway. This contest in Madison is a play-in game to the inaugural Big Ten Championship game. Simple as that. Winner goes to Indy, for a chance to reach the Rose Bowl. Loser goes to the Outback Bowl maybe. Or in the case of PSU they could drop all the way down to the Ticket City.
I still say they do the right thing, and decline a bid. Penn St. has gotten damage control wrong at every single step of this scandal, time to finally get one right.
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