With the season beginning on just over a month for Wisconsin football, the 2024 schedule is brutal. This includes games against Alabama, Oregon, USC, and Penn State. This is the result of eliminating the East and West divisions in the Big Ten and adding Oregon, USC, UCLA, and Washington to the conference. The Badgers will have to win some of these tougher games if they want to be successful this season.
On the other hand, some games on the schedule look a lot easier than others. However, these teams can’t be slept on. Here are three opponents on the Wisconsin football schedule I consider to be trap games.
Wisconsin Football Trap Games: September 7 vs South Dakota
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The South Dakota Coyotes are one of two non-power five conference games on the Wisconsin football schedule. The other is Western Michigan to open the season. This is a 2:30 kick off on 2:30.
South Dakota is an FCS team, but we have seen FCS teams be competitive and beat power five teams in the past. The Coyotes finished last season 10-3 with a loss to FCS Powerhouse North Dakota State to end their season.
In my original season preview, I mentioned the Coyotes will bring back a number of play-makers from last season so the experience will be there. I don’t think Wisconsin football will lose this game, but they need to be careful with South Dakota especially with Alabama coming into Madison the following week.
October 12 at Rutgers
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If you look at the Wisconsin football season, the Badgers have what appears to be a three game gauntlet. That includes Penn State, Iowa, Oregon, This begins October 26.
Before that, Wisconsin football has two road games against Rutgers and Northwestern. Both teams are average to below average at best roster wise. The Badgers have better skill players at just about every position.
In years past, the Badgers would dominate Rutgers from the opening kickoff. However, that isn’t the case anymore as the Scarlet Knights have improved every year under Greg Schiano. In no way will this be a cake walk, but Wisconsin football should be able to take care of business with their depth and talent alone.
October 19 at Northwestern
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After Northwestern begins the three game gauntlet with a big home game against Penn State. The Badgers were embarrassed at home against a average at best Wildcat team last season. I have to think they will remember that. You don’t want to question effort with these players, but Wisconsin football looked uninterested for three and an half quarters in a game they should have won without much stress.
Like Rutgers, I think Northwestern doesn’t have the talent to compete with Wisconsin football for four quarters, but they always play the Badgers tough. The Wildcats are in the process of creating a new home field so this game will be at a new site. I don’t expect much of crowd either. When that happens, it’s hard to create your own momentum. The Badgers have to take care of this game and have momentum going into the Penn State game.
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