Fresno St. +9
Fresno St. +9
Wisconsin has 8 returning starters on offense, including Bollinger the quarterback, and Anthony Davis, who may very well become the best running back in college football if he doesn't opt to turn pro before his college career ends (I believe he led the Big 10 last year as a true Freshman). They also have an All-American at WR and TE and most of their line coming back. The Badgers are solid offensively, but must replace 9 defensive positions.
The Bulldogs have some huge shoes to fill at the Quarterback position, but they do have 7 returning starters on offense, including their entire front line, which allowed only 25 sacks last year. The Bulldogs also return 8 starters on defense, and I believe they have a Freshman recruit at Safety that they're high on. Did I mention they also have their Kicker and Punter returning? The Kicker led the nation with FGM last year. Do you remember the Colorado St. game, where the kicker Asparuhov), makes a 48 yrd. field goal with 4 seconds in regulation time, and wins the game in OT with a 43 yarder. Last year, 5 Players were drafted into the NFL. We're not talking about a Florida school, where they have football factories, but this itty bitty little WAC school. The Sr.'s of last year (David Carr & Company) were the
first recruiting class of Head Coach Pat Hill, who's kind of a Maverick. He recruits accademically challenged kids, who can't go to the big schools because of grades, or SAT scores, and has developed a tutorial program for these kids. I think Pat Hill, is the real deal, and I think Fresno St. will make a statement (again) this year. As for this game, if the Bulldogs don't win it straight up, they should cover the 7 points.
I'm a numbers guy, and I ran a hypothetical:
If Fresno St.'s Offense is 20% weaker than last years Offense, and Wisconsin's Offense is 20% better than last years Offense, and Fresno St.'s Defense remains the same (statistically), Wisconsin's Defense would have to show 26% improvement over last year in order to cover the spread (I ran this model when the spread was 7). Basically, their defense would have to return to the level of their 98 Rose Bowl form. There will be improvemnt in Wisconsin's Defense, but 20% turn-around is a hell of a lot of improvement when you only have 2 returning starters on defense. I also think that Fresno St.'s Defense will improve, as it should, since they return 8 defensive starters this year, and a Punter that averaged over 43 yds/punt, and a little offensive kick with Asparuhov, who might be the best kicker in College Ball, we'll certainly see him in the NFL.
We all know Fresno plays Air Ball. They of course are Carr-less, and are going to start a walk-on true freshman at running back. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, they have their entire line, and their top WR,
Bernard Berrian, returning. Wisconsin's strength lays with it's offense, returning 8 starters. They will face 8 returning starters for Fresno on Defense, while the Badgers only have 2 returning starters on Defense. The advantage on Special Teams
goes to Fresno, kicking, punting, and return yards. Even with all the hype and the revenge factor, I think Pat Hill has his boys ready to win a game.
We all know Fresno plays Air Ball. They of course are Carr-less, and are going to start a walk-on true freshman at running back. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, they have their entire line, and their top WR,
Bernard Berrian, returning. Wisconsin's strength lays with it's offense, returning 8 starters. They will face 8 returning starters for Fresno on Defense, while the Badgers only have 2 returning starters on Defense. The advantage on Special Teams
goes to Fresno, kicking, punting, and return yards. Even with all the hype and the revenge factor, I think Pat Hill has his boys ready to win a game.
We all know Fresno plays Air Ball. They of course are Carr-less, and are going to start a walk-on true freshman at running back. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, they have their entire line, and their top WR, Bernard Berrian, returning. Wisconsin's strength lays with it's offense, returning 8 starters. They will face 8 returning starters for Fresno on Defense, while the Badgers only have 2 returning starters on Defense. The advantage on Special Teams
goes to Fresno, kicking, punting, and return yards. Even with all the hype and the revenge factor, I think Pat Hill has his boys ready to win a game.
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