Wisconsin Football: Official Orange Bowl Prediction
Wisconsin football embarks on a real road test against the Miami Hurricanes in the Orange Bowl. So Badger of Honor offers its prediction for how things will play out
Starting in August and continuing through November, Wisconsin football had a different bowl destination in mind. This Badger team appeared primed to make a run to the College Football Playoff (CFP).
With a little bit of luck they might have been the first Big Ten team to score in the CFP since The Ohio State in 2015. Of course, after losing to the Buckeyes, the CFP was no longer plausible.
Instead, Wisconsin gets the Orange Bowl as a consolation prize. Hardly a bad destination as one of the more prominent games outside of the CFP.
Wisconsin Badgers Football
But the degree of difficulty is enhanced since the Badgers will have to face #10 Miami (10-2). The Hurricanes will be playing in their own back yard. Bowl games are typically neutral site affairs but not this year for Wisconsin.
So how the Badgers handle what could be a boisterous and hostile crowd will be critical to getting the win.
This game features two teams that pride themselves on their defense. Fast, physical, and great at forcing turnovers. Both offenses want to run the ball and throw only as minimally necessary to get first downs.
However, I don’t believe the Miami offense has the balance and healthy weapons to hurt the Wisconsin defense. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes run defense is decent but not good enough to shut Jonathan Taylor and friends down.
The turnover chain may make an appearance but the Wisconsin defense will highlight its turnover cheesehead, or whatever our equivalent would be. In the end, the Badger offense makes a few more big plays on the ground and through the air.
Therefore, I think Wisconsin will get its fourth straight bowl win and rise to the occasion on the road in the Orange Bowl.
Next: 5 Questions with Canes Warning about Miami
Wisconsin 27 Miami 17
The Badgers wear down the Miami front and use the physical ground game to disappoint the home crowd. Jonathan Taylor of course plays a starring role as the extended break refreshes him. Meanwhile, the defense never lets the Hurricanes generate any offensive balance. The Hurricanes mount one field goal drive but its two scores come off Badger turnovers.