Wisconsin's schedule is going to be talked about before, during, and after the season. Head Coach Luke Fickell refers to it as "The Mountain," and it's brutal. There's no way around it: it's a top-five strength of schedule in the nation and the hardest Big Ten schedule. It's going to be a battle almost every week.
Now, a new voice has entered into the chat to poo-poo on Wisconsin this season. CBS Sports' Josh Pate has zero confidence in them reaching the over in the projected sportsbook projection of 5.5 wins. He tells his listeners to take the under with confidence.
Josh Pate says to take the under on Wisconsin's 5.5 win projection
"Starting with the first Saturday in October, they go to Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State at Oregon, Washington, at Indiana, Illinois, at Minnesota. I wouldn't pick them to win any of those games and they go to Alabama in out of conference play... I do not know where they find six wins. "Josh Pate
He goes on to discuss how he doesn't know the team's identity, and he said he doesn't think Wisconsin fans do either. They are hedging all their bets on Billy Edwards Jr., the transfer from Maryland, who is supposed to save them, and that won't be enough.
It's tough to hear him say all of this, but the reality is that everyone, even the most optimistic fans, is trying to figure out where Wisconsin gets six wins. And until Luke Fickell proves he has the Badgers on the right track, he will continue to have to prove himself, and hopefully, this is the season to do it.
If Wisconsin achieves six wins and a bowl game, the year will be considered a success by even the most pessimistic fans and stakeholders. The schedule is hard enough that six or seven wins would be a huge statement.