re: The opening line has been released for our game next weekend against Wisconsin...

Bama by at least 20.

I watched the WMU game. They had the lead on Wisconsin in the fourth quarter. They gave it away on a muffed punt where their player touched the ball and gave it to Wisconsin.

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They were decisively beaten by Western Kentucky, UAB, Florida Atlantic and one of those 4 letter acronym schools last year.

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In 2023, Wisconsin lost to 5-7 Washington State, 3-9 Indiana, and 8-5 Northwestern, in addition to Iowa, Ohio State, and LSU in their bowl game.

At home, they beat 3-9 Buffalo, 5-7 Nebraska in OT, 7-6 Rutgers, and 6-7 Georgia Southern. On the road, they beat 4-8 Purdue, 5-7 Illinois, 6-7 Minnesota on the road.

Not sure which of those games we would consider a win against a "good" team. I'm not seeing one.

I agree that USF didn't have a much better season, but they at least won their owl game and both teams ended up 7-6.

At most these teams are a wash, but I don't think Wisconsin will be able to play us nearly as close as USF did yesterday.

Sorry to bump this with an off-topic question but I didn't to clutter the board by starting a new thread. What are the designated visitor sections at BDS? I looked online but am having trouble finding it.

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They’re more athletic

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Oline last year struggled much more against the undersized athletic dudes. USF was helped with all the shuffling but honestly they had a great defensive game plan attacking with undersized speed dudes forcing Milroe to do things he unfortunately still can’t do and daring the zebras to call PI. Wisky doesn’t have the players to do that, can’t speak to Wisconsin coaches but Golesh will be a P4 HC very soon.

Been an odd, difficult road for Wisconsin. In the 2010s, we went to four Rose Bowls + an Orange and Cotton Bowl. With Paul Chryst, there was a time we felt had a coach to hold us as a Top 10-15 program. Even with the last few years, we're somehow still Top-10 among power conference programs in wins during the CFP era. Anyway, COVID came around and things took a brutal turn. Chryst got rid of the recruiting department and his offenses became boring and unimaginative. He wasn't progressing the program in this new landscape of CFB. Most Wisconsin fans felt Jim Leonhard would get the HC job, but his (interim) audition didn't look much different than what Wisconsin just got rid of. Leonhard gets the job if Wisconsin didn't pull Luke Fickell.

At the time, Fickell was a HR hire for the Badgers. Still think it was the right move - credit to Chris McIntosh (AD) for swinging for the fences. Fickell pegs Phil Longo as OC, and the two had said there was always an admiration and desire to work with each other. Unfortunately, I don't know if they expected this much of a curve / it's not looking like a great fit. Fickell's Cincinnati teams looked much different on offense and Fickell/Longo butt heads a few times last year. Nothing looks to be different this go-around. Defensively, Wisconsin was already going into the year with DL depth concerns, which was made worse by season-ending injury to James Thompson Jr. during fall camp. Front seven has looked terrible. Jake Chaney, our starting ILB, is suspended for the 1H this weekend but don't think you'll find many bummed Wisconsin fans. He's slow, and it's paving the way for Tackett Curtis (familiar name, potentially). Finding his way back from off-season surgery, but looked much better than Chaney.

All said, no Wisconsin fans thinks we're going to win this one. It's a bit unfortunate given the consistency of our program for nearly 30 years. However, Madison remains one of the best places to visit for an opposing fan. Hard to beat the setting of a Capital city on an isthmus, coupled with our drinking culture. Weather should be very pleasant. Enjoy your time. I'll be around