Wisconsin football could wreck havoc this year, but not for the reason you think

It's well known at this point Wisconsin faces one of the most difficult schedules in college football this year. Most books have their over/under set around 5.5 for the Badgers, who are coming off a 5-7 season that had them miss a bowl game for the first time in two decades. So while a playoff hunt may not be in the cards this year, Wisconsin can certainly play spoiler, and will have a lot of chances to ruin some programs' dreams.

Of the teams on the Badgers' schedule this year, at least six could be legitimate playoff contenders. Given that, to be a playoff team, it's probably necessary to be a one or two loss team, dropping one to Wisconsin would be disastrous. J.D. Pickell of On3 listed Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana and Illinois all on upset alert.

Wisconsin could end some playoff dreams this season

If Wisconsin were to somehow even go .500 against these teams, which would be their ceiling considering their preseason projections, it would absolutely wreck havoc on the playoff picture. Alabama was the only playoff team last season to lose more than twice, and a loss against the likely middling Badgers would put a severe dent in any potential playoff team's armor. Given, Luke Fickell has never beaten a ranked opponent since coming to Wisconsin, the odds are that the Badgers upset maybe one of these six. Still, giving Ohio State or Michigan a third loss to end their playoff push would be one sweet victory.

Now if Wisconsin somehow starts stacking wins against these teams, it would be welcome surprise, and give fans reasons to believe the program is on track. In reality, no one is really expecting a playoff team this year, but there are still plenty of reasons to be excited about the season, especially as a spoiler to some hated rivals.