Wisconsin football is back. Here are three performances that deserve recognition.
Ah, Wisconsin football, welcome back. We’ve missed you dearly. For many Badger fans leading into this 2018 season, the desire to watch Wisconsin don the iconic cardinal and red and enter the hallowed ground of Camp Randall was only heightened by the heavy dosage of preseason hype they received.
Coming into their first matchup, the #4 ranked Badgers were expected to pummel the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky. Vegas had the spread set at -36. And while the Badgers weren’t able to make many gamblers happy, their 34-3 rout of Western Kentucky was a good starting point for a team that has often started slowly against weaker out-of-conference opponents in the past.
Yes, there was a lot of room for improvement, most notably in the running game, which looked a tad suspect – especially thanks to another Jonathan Taylor fumble. I thought the offensive line would be able to boss the line of scrimmage much more than it did.
On defense, the Badgers gave up over 300 yards to a pretty suspect offense but did make the stops – especially in the Red Zone – when it mattered. The lack of real difference makers at the Defensive End position was highlighted, as the Badgers often suffered to get pressure on the QB without the aid of Wisconsin’s legion of talented linebackers.
But, I digress. This post is supposed to be about the positives, the hyperbolic hype, the eternal optimists who only viewed this game through Badger-red tinted glasses.
So, every week from now until the end of the Badger Football season, we’re going to assess the three best player highlights from the game that was. Some might be tongue-in-cheek, others may be more serious, but all will showcase a serious reason for Badger fans to get excited.
Without further ado, here’s a look at the week one superlatives from the Badgers’ stampede over Western Kentucky.