The no. 4 Wisconsin Badgers begin their 2018 campaign with a primetime game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Kickoff is at 9:00 EST on Friday, August 31 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN. Wisconsin is listed as a 34.5-point favorite to beat the Hilltoppers. This is expected to be one of the bigger blowouts of the week. See more which games will be more competitive by clicking here.
The Badgers enter the season as legitimate national championship contenders. Wisconsin went undefeated through the regular season in 2017, only to lose 27-21 to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, a loss that likely kept them out of the College Football Playoff. However, the Badgers will fancy themselves to compete for a conference title and a spot in the four-team playoff again this season.
Western Kentucky, meanwhile, is in the process of working their way back up the Conference-USA hierarchy. The Hilltoppers won conference titles in 2015 and 2016, only to fall back to 6-7 last year in Mike Sanford’s first season at the helm. After losing five of their last six games to finish 2017, including a bowl loss to Georgia State, it remains to be seen if Sanford has the Hilltoppers moving in the right direction.
The Hilltoppers have managed to steal a few wins in recent years over power conference teams. However, those wins have come against regional rivals Kentucky and Vanderbilt, who aren’t exactly powerhouse programs. Wisconsin, on the other hand, is a national power, so this would be a monumental upset if Western Kentucky can somehow beat the Badgers.
A spread this big makes this game tough to call. It requires a team like Wisconsin to be nearly perfect in their season opener while also relying on an abysmal effort from the underdog. I went against the Badgers covering a big spread in their opener last season against Utah State and I turned out to be wrong. I’ll give Wisconsin the benefit of the doubt this time around and lean toward the Badgers to take care of business and cover the 34.5-point spread.
While Wisconsin is often recognized for their defense, it’s the team’s offense that looks to be the strength heading into the 2018 season. Jonathan Taylor was just 23 yards short of rushing for 2,000 yards as a freshman last season. He’ll be a dark horse to win the Heisman this season with all five starters on the offensive line returning. The Badgers were able to steamroll teams with their running game last season, and there’s a good chance they do the same to Western Kentucky in the season opener. The Hilltoppers are a little light up front and could be pushed around by the massive Wisconsin offensive line.
Of course, covering a five-touchdown spread may require the Badgers creating big plays in the passing game. Quarterback Alexi Hornibrook returns with a season of experience under his belt. He struggled with turnovers for much of last season, but he was typically able to carve up inferior defenses. The Hilltoppers had one of the worst pass rushes in the country last year, and there’s little reason to believe things will be different this season. That means Hornibrook could have all day in the pocket to find open receivers. The caveat is that two of Wisconsin’s top receivers, Quintez Cephus and Danny Davis, will be unavailable. However, the Badgers should have enough depth to get by without them early in the year.
However, the Badgers could be a little vulnerable on the defensive side of the ball. Wisconsin has to replace eight defensive starters from last year’s team, so there could be some growing pains early in the year. The Badgers have recruited well, so they have plenty of talent. But they could be lacking in depth and proven playmakers, especially along the defensive line and in the secondary.
Of course, it’ll be up to Western Kentucky to expose some of these potential weaknesses. That could be difficult with the Hilltoppers breaking in a new quarterback in Drew Eckels. Despite being a senior, Eckels has just 24 career pass attempts. True freshman Kevaris Thomas could get a chance, as he’s a four-star recruit with great potential. But he could be over his head playing at Camp Randall in his collegiate debut.
The Hilltoppers are also relying on a young set of skill players. The group has potential but could find it tough against Wisconsin’s defense. There are also major concerns about the WKU offensive line. The Hilltoppers averaged just two yards per rush last season while also allowing 48 sacks. That group remains a concern, even against a Wisconsin team that lacks proven pass rushers.
While Wisconsin has some question marks heading into the season, I don’t believe Western Kentucky is good enough to take advantage of any shortcomings the Badgers have. The Hilltoppers won’t be able to slow down the Wisconsin rushing attack, and as long as Hornibrook can avoid the turnovers that plagued him last season, the Badgers could have a potential field day on offense. That should allow them to cover the spread.