The Wisconsin Badgers are used to owning the West Division in the Big Ten. After a couple of setback seasons, that still included a nine-win campaign and a bowl win last year, they have their sites back on getting on top.
Before this two-year blip, The Badgers had at the very least won the West Division seven out of the ten previous years with seven double-digit winning seasons as well.
Wisconsin is one of the few teams that has an identity that most college football fans can pick out of a lineup. Smashmouth defense, an elite running game and an offensive line factory.
Last year however they were a little lacking in those last two components, especially in their losses. Defeats to Michigan, Penn State, Notre Dame and Minnesota all saw them average less than 3.4 YPR. If they can fix that issue this year then this is a team that should be in the conversation for Big-10 supremacy.
What could really take this team over the top is if current QB and former super recruit Graham Mertz can finally live up that advance billing in his third year at the helm.
He’ll have to get used to a mostly new -albeit talented- supporting cast in the passing game, including UCLA transfer Keontez Lewis, Skyler Bell and whichever TE will step up to replace one of the best in the nation in Jake Ferguson.
The defense was one of the best in the nation last year, allowing just over 4 yards per play. Many of the pieces graduated, but they have terrific talent coming in and one of the best defensive coordinators in the game in Jim Leonhard.
2022 Wisconsin Badgers NCAA Football Futures Odds
Odds to win the 2022-23 NCAA Championship: 80/1
Odds to win the 2022 Big Ten Conferences: +1100
Odds to win the 2022 Big Ten West Division: +190
2022 Regular Season Win Total: Over 8½ (-145)
Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes +1000 | No -4000
2022 Heisman Contenders: Braelon Allen +6000
Official website: uwbadgers.com
Twitter Account : @BadgerFootball
Odds to win the 2022-23 NCAA Championship: 80/1
Win the Big-10 and they’ll be in the playoff mix. Simpler said than done, but they do play Ohio State in the regular season. Even if they lose that game, they’ll learn from the experience if they have to face them again in the conference championship.
It’s a relatively light schedule and these are long odds for a team that has the most wins of any Power Five team in the CFP era not to make the playoffs.
The Verdict: Worth a small investment
Odds to win the 2022 Big Ten Conferences: +1100
These are great odds for the team that is a strong contender to win the Western division. They only have Ohio State and Michigan State to face among the expected top teams in the division cross over. They’ll also have to beat Iowa on the road, but they’ve won five of six in the series.
The Verdict: Worth a small bet at these odds
Odds to win the 2022 Big Ten West Division: +190
The key to their season is Mertz raising his game. He’s shown flashes and now he needs to put it together in year three. It’s a tall order, but not asking too much of a player with the amount of talent he possesses.
The Verdict: Strong pick
2022 Regular Season Win Total: Over 8½ (-145)
This team has its sights set on at least ten wins and a trip to the Big-Ten championship game. Their opening three games -all at home- against Illinois State, Washington State and New Mexico State- should help them iron out the kinks before they go visit Ohio State.
It’ll be a tall task to win that game, and the second half features road games against Michigan State, Iowa and Nebraska.
In and around that they get Illinois, Northwestern, Purdue, Maryland and Minnesota, with the only road game coming against Northwestern. Win those five and their opening three and they need just one win against the meat of their schedule to cover this.
The Verdict: Strong pick
Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes +1000 | No -4000
As much as I think Wisconsin will rise back to the top of the West division, that is likely their ceiling against whoever they face among the big brothers of the conference in the championship game.
The Verdict: No -4000
2022 Heisman Contenders: Braelon Allen +6000
The running back put up 1,268 yards, 12 TDs and a 6.8 YPR average last year that also included missing a couple early games on the schedule. As good as those numbers look, it was the weak performances against the top teams on the schedule that knocked him down a peg. Running backs need to be truly dominant to get the top prize. Only one RB has won in the last 12 years. He’s got that kind of talent, but it’s a tall order.
The Verdict: Skip it
Odds According to Bovada as of August, 2022
Wisconsin Badgers 2022 Schedule
| SEASON | |||
| Date | Time | Opponent | TV |
| 3-Sep | 7:00 p.m. | Illinois State* | FS1 |
| 10-Sep | 3:30 p.m. | Washington State* | FOX |
| 17-Sep | 3:30 p.m. | New Mexico State* | BTN |
| 24-Sep | at Ohio State | ABC | |
| 1-Oct | Illinois | ||
| 8-Oct | 8:00 p.m. | at Northwestern | |
| 15-Oct | 8:00 p.m. | at Michigan State | |
| 22-Oct | Purdue | ||
| 5-Nov | Maryland | ||
| 12-Nov | at Iowa | ||
| 19-Nov | at Nebraska | ||
| 26-Nov | Minnesota | ||
Home stadium: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI
*Non-conference game – All times are in Eastern time
Bet on the Wisconsin Badgers 2022 Season at Bovada Sportsbook.
