The No. 19 Wisconsin Badgers will begin their 2019 season with a tricky road game against the South Florida Bulls Friday night. Oddsmakers list the Badgers as 12.5-point favorites on the road with an over/under of 58.5 points.
While typically one of the more dangerous mid-major programs in the country, South Florida is coming off a season in which they lost their final six games. That was after the Bulls won their first seven games of the season as rose as high as No. 21 in the polls. Head coach Charlie Strong now has the task of getting USF back on track before their losing streak extends beyond six games.
Wisconsin is also coming off a disappointing season in 2018. The Badgers started the year as a top-5 team with aspirations of reaching the College Football Playoff. But Wisconsin was never able to match those expectations, finishing the season 8-5 and outside the Top 25 at season’s end.
Ride the Taylor Train
If the Badgers are going to rebound in 2019, they are likely going to lean on running back Jonathan Taylor. After rushing for over 2,100 yards last season, Taylor is a legitimate Heisman candidate in 2019, so the Badgers will get him as many touches as possible. The caveat is that Wisconsin has lost a few key members of its offensive line from a season ago. The USF defense will also be focused on stopping Taylor and forcing the Badgers to beat them through the air.
The Wisconsin passing game has a lot to prove heading into the season. Jack Coan will begin the season as the starter after serving as a backup last season. Eventually, true freshman Graham Mertz could take the job from Coan. But until that happens, the Badgers will rely on Coan, who has been largely unimpressive in the limited playing time he’s received while at Wisconsin.
Slow It Down
For South Florida, the biggest change this offseason has been the introduction of new offensive coordinator Kerwin Bell. While most teams are trying to transition to a fast-paced offense that puts pressure on opposing defenses with tempo, the Bulls are planning to slow things down.
South Florida will look to use an offensive line that brings back four starters and two experienced running backs to dominate possession and control the clock. Starter Jordan Cronkrite rushed for over 1,100 yards last season, while Johnny Ford chipped in nearly 800 yards, with both averaging better than six yards per carry.
Of course, USF has a quarterback they trust in Blake Barnett. His numbers were a little mixed last season, but Barnett was once one of the top quarterback recruits in the country. He finally has a full season of starting experience under his belt, so he could be set up for a good season, especially if the USF rushing attack can give him plenty of support and take some of the pressure off his shoulders.
Running with the Bulls
With a Big Ten team coming into its house and a six-game losing streak hanging over its head, South Florida is going to be motivated to play well this game. The Bulls have more than enough talent to avoid being pushed around by the Badgers. Wisconsin is likely to win the game, but they could struggle to get separation. Even if South Florida doesn’t pull off the upset, bet on the Bulls to at least beat the 12.5-point spread.
