Coming off their hardest game of the season, the Wisconsin Badgers jump right into arguably their easiest in Week 2, as they’ll take on the Western Illinois Leathernecks.
Even after a four-touchdown loss to No. 4 Notre Dame (which, to be fair, was closer than the final score), Wisconsin is still a 37.5-point favorite over FCS Western Illinois, their largest positive spread in quite some time.
So, there should be zero drama on Saturday evening as far as who wins the game. But that doesn’t mean the Badgers’ performance won’t be under a microscope, even against a woefully overmatched unit that lost by 31 points at home to Illinois State. Not Illinois. Illinois State.
The Badgers badly need a hearty romp in this game, and need to do so while staying healthy and giving reps to players who ordinarily won’t get them. The assignment is simple and stark.
With this as the backdrop, here are my best case, worst case, and most likely scenarios for Wisconsin against Western Illinois.
Best Case
This one is pretty basic: stay healthy and absolutely romp.
Here, the Badgers’ offense is clean, consistent, and dominant both through the air and on the ground, while the defense simply chokes out an inferior opponent by creating havoc and, yes, turnovers.
Wisconsin scores early and often here, and several second and third-team guys get on the field for meaningful snaps in a game the Badgers could have run the score up a bit more. It’s a rare cover for Bucky, who are feeling pretty good about themselves two weeks out from a trip to Happy Valley.
Score: Wisconsin 45-3
Worst Case
I’ll show my hand right now. While not an actual loss, it pretty much feels like one.
The Badgers come out sluggish with a less-than-stoked crowd cheering them on, and allow the Leathernecks to hang around in the first half via some all too familiar mistakes, including turnovers and missed tackles.
Yes, Wisconsin’s superior size and talent show up in the second half as they build a lead they won’t relinquish, but Luke Fickell’s guys are flat for most of the night, and a few even get nicked up.
While not a total disaster, it’s a forgettable game that certainly won’t quell the doubts that arose with Notre Dame about the team and Fickell, who will be hoping everyone not at Camp Randall, from fans to recruits, was watching Texas/Ohio State instead.
Score: Wisconsin 27-13
Most Likely
My instinct here was to call for a blowout score, as the one Notre Dame hung on Wisconsin, but I’m in show me mode, and the reality is: Fickell’s Badgers haven’t made easy work of many teams they’ve played in three-plus seasons.
So, yes, Wisconsin will handle a ghastly Western Illinois team in a game that will never be in doubt. The run game will look solid, Joseph will have some wow moments, and the husky Badgers defense will simply be too much for a team from the conference that produced Hunter Simmons.
It will be an enjoyable evening of low-stakes football, but it won’t feel like cruise control until the second unit enters in the 4th quarter. That’s just where I am right now with this team.
Score: Wisconsin 34-6
