Wisconsin football schedule 2019: Game-by-game predictions

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - NOVEMBER 17: Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor (23) runs up the middle during the college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and Wisconsin Badgers on November 17, 2018, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Wisconsin football had a disappointing 2018 season but with Jonathan Taylor back, can the Badgers have a turnaround season and win the Big Ten West?

An 8-5 season that resulted in a monstrous win over Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl isn’t an abject failure for the Wisconsin Badgers. Yet, the 2018 season for Paul Chryst’s team felt like a year of unmet expectations. This was a team with potential National Championship hopes that ended up not even being able to make it to the Big Ten Championship Game.

Thus, things feel a bit more tepid around the Badgers entering the 2019 season but there are still reasons for optimism. That begins with running back Jonathan Taylor who, despite the overall struggles for Wisconsin last season, rushed for 2,194 yards and 16 touchdowns as a true sophomore. He’ll look to replicate (or better) those efforts now as he’s still the focal point of the offense and a legitimate Heisman candidate.

Where the Badgers offense was lackluster last season, though, was in the passing game with Alex Hornibrook. Now prepared to turn the page on that chapter, the big question is who will be starting at quarterback. Jack Coan has experience in Chryst’s offense and showed promise at the end of 2019. Yet, freshman Graham Mertz is the more talented player but it remains to be seen if he’s ready to take the helm already.

There’s no question that the offensive line lost key players in Michael Dieter, David Edwards and Beau Benzschawel, which could be something to watch. With Tyler Biadasz back, Cole Van Lanen ready to star and the simple fact that Wisconsin is an offensive line factory, though, maybe we shouldn’t be worried.

What could swing Wisconsin either way in terms of success, though, is a defense that was ravaged with injuries last season. As many veterans have gone to the next level, the Badgers both need players to step up and stay healthy so that their run-heavy offense can be at its most effective.

Taking all this into account, let’s go game-by-game through the 2019 Wisconsin schedule and predict how they’ll fare in each contest.

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