BadgerNotes Staff Predictions: Wisconsin Football vs. Washington State

It may have taken a half to get going, but the Wisconsin football team defeated the Buffalo Bulls in Week 1 of the 2023 season. The BadgerNotes staff started off strong as well. All six predictions had Wisconsin winning, so all six enter this week 1-0 on the season.

Now, things could get a little harder. Predicting a Big Ten vs. MAC matchup is usually pretty easy. But the Badgers’ next opponent is a Power 5 opponent that came to Madison and left with a win last year. And this time, we are not all in agreement on the outcome of this game.

BadgerNotes Staff Predictions: Wisconsin Football vs. Washington State

Christian Borman (1-0): Wisconsin 38-27

I’m not going to lie, this game is making me a little nervous. Going to the West Coast is never an easy thing to do for a Midwest team. But I guess the Wisconsin football team is going to have to get used to it with the new additions to the conference kicking in next year. 

The running backs are going to be the key to this win. If they can be as productive (or even close to it) as they were against Buffalo, they should be fine. Hopefully, the team will have a little extra edge this week too, avenging what I would call a bad loss to Wazzu last year. I’m also calling my shot: Tanner Mordecai starts putting it together and has a nice stat line, silencing some of the questions about the Badgers’ QB1. 

The defense is going to have to defend an air raid offense that put up 50 points in week one. Cam Ward threw for 451 yards and three touchdowns last week as well. The Badgers may have to win a shootout if they can’t stop the Wazzu offense. 

At the end of the day, I don’t think you bet against Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi against a defense like this. The Badgers should control the game with their running backs. 

Dillon Graff (1-0): Wisconsin 31-24

Last week wasn’t the storybook beginning for Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin football program. That said, I believe we’ll see the Badgers bounce back and put together a more complete game on Saturday night against Washington State.

I’m most interested in how Mike Tressel and the defense plan to contain Cam Ward and if UW can generate a more consistent pass rush. Regardless, Wisconsin’s threat of a passing game should open up enough running lanes for the Badgers to get the job done at Wazzu.

Jake Maier (1-0): Wisconsin 41-35

This game is so hard for me to figure out, and it’s definitely giving me some pause. It’s all going to come down to how well Wisconsin can contain Cam Ward. In week one, Ward accounted for 491 of Wazzu’s 556 yards. He led in passing, rushing, and carries. Safe to say, the offense is going to run through him this weekend.

I think UW will be able to exploit Washington State’s lackluster secondary like Colorado State did in week one. I’m going to say Wisconsin wins here, but it is going to be so close and won’t be a pretty win. I think we’re going to see a lot of points, so I’ll go with a 41-35 victory for Wisconsin football.

Dylan Buboltz (1-0): Wisconsin 28-24

This will be no walk in the park for the Badgers. They are also looking for revenge after falling to Wazzu 17-14 at home last season. This game comes down to containing Cam Ward and better tackling in the open field. Ward will present problems with his arm and legs. However, I do think UW continues to rely on the running game.

I think the passing game is better but Tanner Mordecai has to make better decisions with the ball. I think UW wins a close one 28-24.

Drew Hamm (1-0): Wisconsin 31-17

REVENGE GAME TIME! Wisconsin goes into Pullman and beats Wazzu 31-17. With another week under their belt, the Badgers offense looks a bit better and the defense tightens things up and squeezes the life out of the Cougars.

Ryan Eilers (1-0): Wisconsin 42-20

Well look what we have here — the first revenge game of the season. Wisconsin heads west to play a primetime game against the Washington State Cougars from the Pac-12ish. Last season Wisconsin kindly invited the Cougars in for a friendly non-conference game and what do they do? They come in and steal one from the good guys! Unfortunately for the Badgers, Wazzu snuck out of Camp Randall victorious despite Wisconsin leading in; total yards, time of possession, 1st downs, and 3rd down conversions.

Fast forward to Week 1 of 2023 — the Cougars put up 50 points and 556 yards of total offense! That is impressive — even if it’s against a Colorado State team that ranked 128th out of 133 teams in the updated ESPN FPI. Wisconsin by many accounts did not play their best game to open the season vs. Buffalo and were too sloppy in their execution, according to Coach Fickell on Monday.

This Saturday, Badgers go big-game hunting in Pullman. I would be naïve to think that in 2023 Wisconsin football QB Tanner Mordecai hasn’t heard the noise — unwarranted as it may be. I think it’s fair to assume that Mordecai, Coach Longo, and the Badgers as a whole have kept the receipts. That said — give me the Badgers BIG over the Cougs. Mordecai goes for over 300 yards passing and 4 tuds. Badgers leave the Pacific Northwest with the win, 42-20.

Kedrick Stumbris (0-0): Washington State 31-28

Wisconsin’s defense has some major flaws that the Cougars are built to expose. After getting poor play in the secondary against Buffalo, Wazzu should be on the short list of teams the Badgers do not want to play right now.

WSU quarterback Cam Ward looked electric against Colorado State. On the other hand, Tanner Mordecai’s performance for Wisconsin in Week 1 left much to be desired. His tendency to turn the ball over does not bode well for the Badgers. Last year, these two teams each turned the ball over three times.

In a second year under head coach Jake Dickert, Washington State should improve on that turnover margin in this matchup and, frankly, I have fewer questions about WSU right now. I am taking the Cougs.

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