Wisconsin Football: Game-by-game predictions for the 2021 season
We finally made it, the Wisconsin football season is here! In a few short days, the Badgers will be kicking their 2021 season off when they host the Penn St. Nittany Lions on Saturday, September 4 at 11:00 AM.
There is plenty of reason for optimism this season after a disappointing and turbulent 2020 season. Hopefully, this season will be more consistent with games being played and will have fewer interruptions. I’m sure Wisconsin fans are very much looking forward to a full 12+ game schedule.
With that optimism comes predictions on how our favorite football teams will do. The Badgers are primed for another run a the Big Ten West title, which would bring a probable matchup with the Ohio St. Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship game again.
Right now, Wisconsin football fans are be asking themselves whether or not the Badgers can run the table. I, for one, think that they can. Sure, there are some challenges on the schedule, but there’s not a team they play where I don’t feel good about the Badgers’ chances. This is a very good Wisconsin football team.
Currently, the Badgers are favorites to win each of their games in the regular season this year. We all know it won’t be that easy though. Each week in the Big Ten is like trench warfare. Anything can happen to derail a perfect season, like in 2019 when the Wisconsin football team was shocked by Illinois, ending what was a promising season.
So, without further adieu, let’s take a look at the Badgers’ 2021 schedule and predict the outcome of each game.
Week 1 – Wisconsin vs. Penn St.
Although they are both in the Big Ten, the Penn St. and Wisconsin football matchup is not all that common of a matchup. They are in opposite divisions and only play each other once every 2-3 years. In fact, these two teams are meeting for just the 20th time. Penn St. holds the edge in the series, 10-9 over Wisconsin.
That Badgers will look to tie the series up and earn their first victory over Penn St. since 2011 when Russell Wilson led Wisconsin to a 45-7 victory at home, scoring 45 unanswered points after being down 7-0 midway through the first quarter.
Penn St. will have a good offense again this year, led by quarterback Sean Clifford. They are returning multiple starters from their offense and will be a great matchup with the potent Wisconsin defense for the first game of the year.
The big matchup for Wisconsin will be their running game against the front seven of Penn St. The Nittany Lions are returning just one starter on the defensive line. If this running game can get going against Penn St., the rest will fall into place for Graham Mertz, who has shown flashes of his passing potential.
I think having fans back at Camp Randall for a Stripe Out game is going to create an awesome atmosphere that will help the Badgers defeat Penn St. at home. I think the Badgers start the season with a big win.