Wisconsin Badgers College Football Betting - CFB Lines

2024 Wisconsin Badgers College Football Betting

Madison, Wisconsin native, UW alum, and former QB Paul Chryst was once viewed as the perfect fit as head coach of the Badgers. From 2015 through 2019, he posted four double-digit win seasons, three division titles, and two final rankings inside the Top 10. When he landed the nationally coveted Graham Mertz, he was celebrated for signing the best quarterback prospect in school history. At that time, Wisconsin was viewed as all-future.

Ironically, Mertz was a key component in Chryst’s downfall. Wisconsin’s old formula of game manager QBs was replaced by efforts to “modernize” the offense with a more creative passing attack. The offense became dysfunctional, and Wisconsin’s record began to erode. After going 4-3 and 9-4 with Mertz as his starter, Chryst was fired after a 2-3 start in 2022.

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2024 Wisconsin Badgers Betting Preview

Another Badger alum and former player, athletic director Chris McIntosh, decided to go all-in on modernizing the offense. New head coach Luke Fickell arrived highly acclaimed from his work at Cincinnati, where he produced a College Football Playoff bid and was known as a strong recruiter.

But 2023 was a painful transition that included admissions of locker room strife and players not caring, something previously unheard of in Badgerland. Fickell went 7-6 in his first season, which included a 5-5 start and embarrassing losses to Indiana and Northwestern.

Most disconcerting was that Wisconsin showed a loss of physicality and character in 2023. Some will write that off to the coaching transition. But Wisconsin previously had three different head coaches after Alvarez retired with no interruption in production. More likely, the results were caused by the Badgers forsaking their proven formula and culture.

If the Badgers struggle to score against the bottom half of the Big Ten again, there will be calls for coach Luke Fickell to pull the plug on the Air Raid experiment. How Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke performs at quarterback will play a huge role in determining just how effective this offense can be in 2024. Wisconsin isn’t deep on the lines but should be able to rotate a good number of players on defense and be impactful with coordinator Mike Tressel’s creative blitz packages. However, with a schedule that features Alabama in September and Big Ten roadblocks like Iowa, Penn State, Oregon, and USC, it’s difficult to imagine a great season.

2024 Wisconsin Badgers Football Schedule

Wisconsin began playing football in 1892 but did not become a consistent winner until the early 1990s when Barry Alvarez founded a new era of glory. Since their 1993 Rose Bowl and Big Ten championship, the Badgers have missed a bowl game only twice. The Badgers finished in the final national rankings every season but eight since 1998. Wisconsin has had six Big Ten titles since 1993 and five division titles since 2011.

Known as the Godfather, Alvarez retired as head coach in 2005 but remained as athletic director through 2019. He firmly established a formula that has sustained success through three head coaches and tough competition.

Alvarez engineered a formula of in-state offensive linemen and skill players from both in and outside the state. The Badgers have used states like New Jersey to locate dominant running backs such as Jonathan Taylor. The Badgers have developed a reputation for being both “O-Line U” and “Running Back U.”

Previous head coach Paul Chryst epitomized a perfect fit. Chryst grew up in Madison and was a UW quarterback. He led the Badgers to two final top ten national rankings and four in the top 25. But current athletic director Chris McIntosh, a UW alum, former player, and assistant AD, believes the Badgers are capable of more. And that Luke Fickell’s task as the new head coach.

Wisconsin has had many great players, including the days before Alvarez. Alan Ameche won the Heisman trophy in 1954 as a top running back. While Alvarez running back, Ron Dayne hoisted the Heisman in 1999. Jonathan Taylor, Melvin Gordon, Montee Ball, Russell Wilson, Pat Richter, and Elroy Hirsch are among the past marquee men of Madison.

2024-2025 College Football Schedule

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