Wisconsin Badger football 2009 season predictions

Redshirt freshman Curt Phillips won't get to start but will see plenty of playing
time during the 2009 Wisconsin Badger football team's season.

Preview of the Northern Illinois defense
A look at UW starting running back Zach Brown
Depth chart does not answer questions for Wisconsin

The camps are closed, classes have started and all that is left is the pregame meal. With Wisconsin Badger football season ready to start tomorrow night, it is time to make predictions about what the year will bring for Wisconsin and the Big Ten.

Curt Phillips won't start, but will see plenty of playing time

The two quarterback system is not one that most fans like and a lot of times does not work out well for the team involved.

But at a school like Wisconsin where the running game is king, it could be a good fit.

Wisconsin's situation of having junior Scott Tolzien and redshirt freshman Curt Phillips share time is lot like the one at Florida in 2006.

Fans were clamoring for a young Tim Tebow to become the starter but the Florida coaching staff let him get his feet wet slowly and I think everyone knows how that story is turning out.

Now Phillips is not Tim Tebow and it would way overblown to compare the two, but situation is the same. If Tolzien can be a steady quarterback and limit turnovers, the Wisconsin coaching staff can use Phillips as a change of pace or in certain situations. Like if they needed another running threat down near the goal, something Florida did a lot with Tebow.

Also I think the starting job is Tolzien's to lose. So if Phillips is starting, it means the Badgersí season is not going well. But looking at the Badgerís schedule, I donít see another string of losses like Wisconsin had last season which would prompt a quarterback change.

Speaking of the Wisconsin Badger football team's schedule

The schedule makers were kind to Wisconsin when they released the Big Ten schedule this year. Wisconsin has a real chance to be 5-0 heading into the Oct. 10 meeting with Ohio State in Columbus.

The Badgers open with three non-conference home games where Wisconsin has dominated non Big Ten opponents.

Wisconsin opens the conference season with a pivotal matchup with Michigan State. The good news for the Badgers is that Sparty needs to come to Camp Randall. The following week's matchup at Minnesota is always a tough game for Wisconsin but I think they win that and take an undefeated record to Columbus.

It is hard to predict that anyone in the Big Ten will trip up Ohio State this year and Wisconsin is not at that level yet. The Buckeyes will hand the Badgers the first loss of the season.

Wisconsin will return home to face Iowa on homecoming and smarting from the Ohio State loss the Badgers will be waiting to spoil the Hawkeyes' season and get the win.

The Badgers will then have two weeks to prepare for the soft spot of their schedule with Purdue and Indiana in back-to-back weeks.

Wisconsin then hosts Michigan in a game the Badgers can't wait to play to avenge the embarrassment of last year's meltdown that sent Wisconsin into a tailspin last season. Stoked by revenge, Wisconsin wins and takes a 9-1 record into the last two weeks of the year.

Another one-loss season for the Badgers will fall by the wayside as Wisconsin goes into its personal house of horrors, Ryan Field, and falls to Northwestern to close the Big Ten season.

The Badgers have one game left at Hawaii and while the Warriors will give the Badgers a handful, Wisconsin wins in the final game of the season.

So the final tally is a 10-2 campaign and New Year's Day bowl appearance, saving Bret Bielema's job and showing that 2008 was a fluke.

Wisconsin's J.J. Watt will power the defense

Transfer J.J. Watt has not gotten a lot of press this preseason with the quarterback and running back battles going on in camp. But the sophomore defensive end has been turning heads with his quickness and athleticism all in a 6-6, 287-pound frame.

Watt will complement senior defensive end O'Brien Schofield and help put pressure on the quarterback, something lacking from last year's squad where Schofield was the only one who was a serious pass rushing threat.

Anchored by the two defensive ends, the Badgers should have a much improved defense that last year missed tackles and did not make big plays when needed.

The big play capability gets a boost with the return of Aaron Henry but it all starts on the defensive line and making the opposing quarterback feel uncomfortable in the pocket.

Hawkeyes will soar to Big Ten title

I know in the Big Ten round table we did a couple of weeks back (by the way look for another addition coming out next Thursday) I picked Ohio State. And even in this article, I said it would be hard to pick against Ohio State.

But I think Iowa will be the conference's BCS representative. I still think they will lose to Wisconsin because the Badgers are the one overlook game in a grueling string of tests for Iowa this season. Iowa has to travel to Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan State this year.

The Hawkeyes will handle those tests and finish the season 12-1.

Things to note this season on Wisconsin Badger Examiner

Check back every Saturday morning for the Badger Tailgate feature. I will give you the up to the minute news about the upcoming game and my thoughts on some of the day's action. I might even update my predictions if Iowa falls to Iowa State this weekend and I need to back track.

Also look for other events coming soon including live Twitter updates during the games and other events leading up to game day.

And as always if you like what you see here, donít like it or think I am completely off base, leave a comment below and let your voice be heard.