SnoTap's Badger Preview: Game 1 - UMass vs. Wisconsin

This is a new thing we are doing here on Sports News on Tap, I realize we do a lot of college football stuff, but we tend to forget about the one team here in Wisconsin. I am here to change that and hopefully write some enjoyable stuff for you get prepared for the game. The only one I will probably not preview is Tennessee Tech next week unless I have some sort of angle on it but I doubt it. 

Umass at Wisconsin 11 am - Big Ten Network  

This year in Madison, Wisconsin is a different one. Sure, Camp Randall Stadium is the same, the beer bongs at 6 am will still happen, but there is a new head coach in town. Bret Bielema, one of the more successful yet disliked coaches in Wisconsin history, left for the Ozarks and the SEC at Arkansas. Insert Gary Andersoen, a man whom took Utah State from being in the doldrums to a team making consecutive bowl games. 

Andersen brings a whole new style to Madison. The Badgers are going to run the football, but they might not do the traditional Barry Alvarez I-formation jamming it down their opponent throats.  There will be more shotgun sets along with probably more creativity than what we have seen in the last 30 years of Badger football.  The defense will be changing as well led under new defensive coordinator David Aranda brings with him a 3-4 defense, something nontraditional to the B1G.  This all means the Badgers will definitely need a couple games to find their groove. 

Should we expect the Badgers to struggle early against UMass?  Possibly.  The Minutemen are one of the weaker teams in college football, but Wisconsin will definitely need to get their feet wet with the new systems. It will not be football magic where everyone clicks at the same time and the Badgers are a well oiled machine from the get-go. Although I highly doubt James White and Melvin Gordan will have any problems running the football. It will definitely take some time, and the biggest thing in these first two games which yes are cupcakes, is for the team to be prepared for road trips to Arizona State and Ohio State in the month of September. 

There are a bevy of solid players on this Badger team, but one area where there is still some unknown is at quarterback.  From my knowledge, Joel Stave will start the game, and then we will probably get some Curt Phillips action thrown in there. I am stunned how many Badger fans want Stave as their quarterback versus Phillips. I feel like the Van Wilder senior works better in Andersen's system even if he cannot pass like Stave. Maybe they will do something like South Carolina where Connor Shaw takes the primary snaps and Dylan Thompson comes in for the deep, accurate balls. I would like something that personally.  The quarterback position is what to watch for tomorrow.   

One thing that should excite Badger fans about the new regime is Aranda's commitment to blitzing teams. I honestly believe not enough defense employ the blitz. They worry about their kids getting overcommitted and then getting caught up in screens, hitches and short passes. But blitzes especially with guys like Chris Borland, Beau Allen who I think will be one of best defensive lineman in the country, and others, the Badgers can really make some noise attacking the quarterback. 

As for UMass, this is only their second year in FBS football.  They only have nine starters coming back in total and the Minutemen have to head to one of the toughest place to play in the country.  It is like whenever a small school heads to one of the bigger schools, if they keep it close by halftime, UMass will believe they have a shot at winning this game. Even though the Badgers are in tranisition, they need to put the foot on the throat often and early. 

Prediction: I do not see this being much of a game.  Sure it will not seem as fluid as people want it to be, but the Badgers will be just fine. 38-14 Badgers.   

Charlie.