ESPN has put together its list of potential College Football Playoff contenders as well as some sleeper and spoiler picks for the upcoming season. One team that they liked as a sleeper pick was Wisconsin out of the Big Ten mostly because of a favorable schedule and some continuity for the first time in seemingly forever. Here's their synopsis on the situation:
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"Wisconsin is the nation's quintessential very-very-good-but-not-quite-elite program. Since 2004, the Badgers have averaged 9.8 wins despite four different coaches. Can they finally enter the national conversation? The Badgers are clear favorites in the Big Ten West Division, don't play Ohio State or Penn State during the regular season, and have Michigan, Northwestern and Iowa at home. There are some tricky games, such as Week 3 at BYU, but come December, you might be talking to your kids about undefeated Wisconsin."
Not playing Ohio State or Penn State in the regular season is huge for the Badgers and getting their toughest games at home should certainly help as well. And hopefully by the time they get to a potential Big Ten Championship Game, they are playing their best football and have a real shot at winning and getting into the College football Playoff.
Wisconsin will have some reloading to do though as the offensive line has some questions as well as who will take over for Corey Clement and Dare Ogunbowale at running back as both are gone. The defense will have some reloading to do as well with T.J. Watt and Vince Biegel no longer on the team as well.
