Wisconsin Badgers Football 2014 Season Breakdown: Game-By-Game Analysis

Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

WEEK 12: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska

This week will affectionately be known as the “Big Ten West Championship Game.” The winner of this game will most-likely win the the division; earning a spot in the 2014 Big Ten Conference Championship Game. Thankfully, the game will be played at Camp Randall in front of 80,000 raucous fans. This will be the game of the week in the Big Ten in week 12. All eyes of the college football world will be on the Cornhuskers and Badgers in this colossal matchup.

Nebraska bring back a plethora of talent on both sides of the ball. Their sophomore to-be quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. will certainly be better in 2014. Ameer Abdullah is one of the best running backs in the country and will look to carve the Badgers defense. Wisconsin’s defensive secondary will be greatly tested by wide receiver Kenny Bell, too. This is the poised to become one of the Big Ten’s fiercest rivalries. These two teams have played multiple high-profile games in recent years and the animosity that exists between the two is real. If Wisconsin can come out on top against the ‘Huskers, it will be a lot closer to its goal of getting back to Indianapolis for a chance at the Big Ten championship. The home crowd will be huge in this game and Melvin Gordon III’s Heisman campaign can either be bolstered or forgotten depending the outcome of this game — and how he plays.

WEEK 13: Wisconsin at Iowa

Historically, there are rarely game more tough for Wisconsin than playing at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa. The Hawkeyes are going to give everything the Badgers can handle; especially coming after a matchup against Nebraska. Iowa had a decent year last year (8-5) but will certainly be better in 2014. Their junior to-be Jake Rudock will be a handful for the Wisconsin defense. He had a strong year but is prone to turning the ball over a bit. Thus, the Badgers have to capitalize on those if they want to escape Iowa City with an impressive win. This game is paramount to the Badgers’ hope to be invited to the new college football playoff game (they all are!) but this looks to me like the hardest game of the year. It’s a sneaky contest but one that Wisconsin could easily lose. Hopefully the Badgers can find a way to overcome their rival to the southwest.

WEEK 14: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota

As the tradition has been, Wisconsin will face the Golden Gophers in the final regular season contest of the year. This will be a stingy contest, as these two teams hate each other. That hate is intensified because they play for the Paul Bunyan’s Axe and Wisconsin has now owned it for a decade. Last year there was a scuffle after the game during the Badgers’ celebration; so expect some bad blood between the two. Minnesota had an alright year last year (8-5) but are looking to build upon that in 2014. The Gophers end the year on a four-game stretch against Iowa, Ohio State, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Damn. But we are their biggest rival, so expect their best effort at Camp Randall in late November.

 WEEK 15: Big Ten Conference Championship Game In Indianapolis

Will the Badgers earn their way back to this game? Or will they falter against their rivals, squandering their chance to face the winner of the Big Ten East Division; most-likely Ohio State or Michigan State.

The season is still over four months away but at least now the road to Indianapolis is now a little more defined. Will they do it? We will find out soon enough.