The Wisconsin Badgers will be taking on the No. 4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Lambeau Field in Week 1. It's a Sunday night game, and the nation will be tuning in on NBC to see if Wisconsin is turning things around and if Notre Dame is actually a College Football Playoff team this season. While the Badgers are 20.5-point underdogs to the Irish and most predictions are sitting on Notre Dame to win the game, there's optimism around Wisconsin this season.
Here are three bold predictions ahead of the game, and none of them have to do with the final score. That prediction you can find elsewhere.
1. QB Colton Joseph explodes on a few big runs and ends with over 75 yards rushing on the day
Notre Dame is very aware that Joseph can run, and likes to run. They've been talking about "caging" him all week. Whether it's due to the offense line, the game plan, or a little bit of both, Joseph will need to use his legs. He's fast, athletic, and knows when to make his move. He will bust a few long runs and end the day with over 75 yards rushing.
Hopefully, he also has a good day passing, and the offense is humming. We literally never saw that last season, except against those low-tier FBS programs. This year, we need to see signs of life, even, and maybe especially, against Notre Dame.
2. Wisconsin gets three turnovers: 2 fumbles, 1 interception
Wisconsin was a good defensive team last season, and now it may be even better. There's going to be some turnovers created by the Badger defense, but let's get bold and say it's three. There will be two fumbles and one interception. Since it's a bold prediction, one of those fumbles will come from CJ Carr.
If there is any hope for winning this game, it's going to come from turnovers. The Badgers have to play like their hair is on fire and find ways to punch the ball out and snatch it out of the air.
3. Notre Dame leaves doubts
The big mantra for Notre Dame this season is "leave no doubts." They were left out of the College Football Playoffs last season, and all the talk was about how the voters had doubts about the Irish. This season, Marcus Freeman and his team are pushing the "leave no doubts" narrative. Wisconsin will make sure there are some doubts.
This bold prediction is not really about the score. The score can be any version of the score, and there can still be doubts. Whether it's cause CJ Carr was responsible for multiple turnovers, the Notre Dame offense was stymied most of the game, the defense was exposed, or any combo of those. Wisconsin will do something to create some doubt, and all next week, you'll hear talking heads wondering if Notre Dame is actually a College Football Playoff team or not.
Hopefully a big Badger win is what really cements those doubts but we are staying away from final score predictions in this post.
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