Why Wisconsin Football Will Bounce Back and Win Against Illinois

Wisconsin football returns to action this week following a rough loss to Iowa in a game that was the most Wisconsin vs. Iowa game imaginable. The Badgers must move past the loss fast, with Illinois coming up on Saturday.

Here is why the Wisconsin Badgers will bounce back and win in Champaign on Saturday.

Wisconsin Football won’t let Bret Bielema take them down two years in a row

Bret Bielema is one of the most recognizable names in the Wisconsin football program for some good and some bad reasons. Bielema helped to make the Badgers a consistent conference championship contender.

However, after leading the program to its third straight conference championship in 2012, Bielema shockingly left before the team was about to play in its third consecutive Rose Bowl. Bielema’s departure and some comments he made afterward left a bad taste in Wisconsin fans’ mouths that hasn’t gone away since. With the way the current Illinois head coach’s exit played out, it’s unlikely that Bielema and Badgers fans will ever make peace again.

As a player on the Wisconsin football team, you cannot allow the man who betrayed and bad-mouthed your program to win against it two years in a row. Knowing the history between Bielema and the Wisconsin football program, the team should be motivated to give his new team the beating of a lifetime.

Braedyn Locke has had a full week to prepare as the starting quarterback for Wisconsin Football

The biggest news of Wisconsin’s loss to Iowa over the weekend was the loss of starting quarterback Tanner Mordecai. Mordecai will miss an indefinite amount of time with a broken hand that he had surgery on Sunday.

The loss of Mordecai means the team must turn to a new QB in the immediate future. Redshirt freshman Braedyn Locke will get the start for the Badgers on Saturday. Locke came in following the injury to Mordecai in last week’s game.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound QB completed 15-of-30 passes for 122 yards but had two turnovers to go with it. Although he struggled with pocket presence and protecting the football in his first extended action, Locke now has a week to review the film, eliminate the bad habits he showed, and prepare for his first collegiate start. The coaching staff will adapt the game plan to an offense that also fits his skill set.

Despite the bad, the Rockwall, Texas native showed encouraging signs against the Hawkeyes. Locke showed more zip on his throws than what fans have accustomed themselves to seeing from Mordecai. While there will likely be some freshman mistakes from Locke, getting a week of first-team reps in practice with the game plan tailored to him will benefit an improved performance on Saturday.

Final Thoughts

It will be a painful weekend for Badgers fans if the team allows Bielema’s team to win again. With the team likely out of the Big Ten West championship race, a victory over Illinois seems like a big morale booster for fans.

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