Badgers Off-Beat Preview: A look at UW's schedule and why fall is the best
If you are looking for hard-hitting analysis, yeah, this ain’t it. But if you want a fun, entertaining read, you’ve found the right place. For more of Brandon Rifkin, please head to his blog or follow him on Twitter.
Hello.
Did you enjoy your summer? Sweating every day? Getting sunburn just checking the mail? Not being able to wear anything from your arsenal of Patagonias? SUMMER SUCKS. There you go. I'll say it. It is, on a good day, the third best season:
1) Fall. Comfortable weather, football returns, Cubs on a 1 World Series winning streak, Halloween, quarter zips (the new thermals), I don't even drink them but I'm sure approximately 50 percent of you flip your lid over pumpkin-spiced everythings, Halloween candy for sale for pennies on the dollar in November.
2) Spring. ESCAPE FROM THE LONG NIGHT, NCAA Tournament, quarter zips, Revolution A Little Crazy guzzling, those random days where it's like 75 and sunny in late March, St. Patrick's Day.
3) Summer. Air conditioning, patio drinks for an hour before you'd rather be inside with the previously mentioned A/C, praying your Cubs seats are in the shade for the Saturday afternoon August game against the Pirates you got tickets for, waiting an hour for Jeni's ice cream even though Bobtail in Lakeview is better, Lollapalooza and everything that's terrible about it.
4) Winter. Freeze outside, sweat on public transportation, eating ice cream is somehow considered weird because it's so cold, salt gets stuck in my dog's paws and she does this sad little hop thing until I fish it out with my bare fingers even though it's 3 degrees outside, those random blocks on heavily trafficked streets that don't bother shoveling so all the snow gets packed down and walking on it feels like part of an American Ninja Warrior course, even Jon Snow is shedding any association with it.
So whatever. I'm a #SummerHater and I've come to terms with it. That's ok because it's basically Fall and I'm ready to FEAST on all the wonders Fall has in store for us. That starts Friday night in Madison.
UW SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
Week 1 - Utah State: Of course we all remember the last time these clownbags came to Madison. Gary Andersen was a missed 37-yard field goal away from pulling the upset. And then he got the UW job and that worked out SO well. For that reason alone, I hope we win by 80 instead of 70.
Week 2 - Florida Atlantic: I never really get the retread approach to hiring coaches in sports. How many up and comers are out there that deserve a shot than giving Lane Kiffin another look? Is it just a ploy at a school like FAU to generate hype/buzz and sell a few more tickets? Whatever, not our problem. Bucky rollllls.
Week 3 - at BYU: Holy cow we should all be going to this game:
https://twitter.com/AlexKirryKSL/status/772287092118343680
https://twitter.com/HallBrian/status/772322429209194496
https://twitter.com/DrPatP/status/772287479101534208
https://twitter.com/seanhous/status/772356831792345088
We'd have the beer lines ALL to ourselves!
Week 4 - BYEEEEE: Game of Thrones season 7: some truly befuddling plots but wildly entertaining. That's how I'm viewing it. I thought for SURE something would top the season 6 finale, but that's still holding the top spot as far as best episodes go.
The hottest moment of season 7 has to be seeing Drogon in action roasting the Lannisters with the Dothraki hootin' and hollerin' all over, right? That was peak Thrones, and it didn't rest on top of a TERRIBLE plot like going beyond the wall to steal a zombie. That idiotic plan took a little zest off the zombie killing, dragon burning, ZOMBIE DRAGON spectacle for me.
The show overcame the weaknesses by being so damn END GAMEY, but I'm really hoping they find more stable footing for bringing the ship into port in the last season. 2019 WHY ARE YOU LITERALLY YEARS AWAY?
Week 5 - Northwestern: Bring your ponchos and snowshoes because lord knows there's no way this game is played in pleasant weather. Who's our backup QB? Jack Coan? Get ready kid, because there's a virtual guarantee Hornibrook catches West Nile at halftime. Even when the game is in Madison, these damn nerds find a way to weird it all up. If you want a season ruiner, look no further.
Week 6 - at Nebraska: I read somewhere that Nebraska is essentially trying to emulate the way Wisconsin has built its program ... which is ironic given Barry more or less emulated Nebraska when building UW up into a POWER. Time is a flat circle.
Week 7 - Purdue: #NeverForget
https://youtu.be/2iHrMY9Odlw
Two thoughts:
1) I can't believe instant replay was available before HD was even a thing
2) We honestly broke Purdue
Week 8 - Maryland: Really amped for this Purdue/Maryland/Illinois/Indiana stretch of 11 a.m. kickoffs. Big Ten football: DIG IT
Week 9 - at Illinois: Is Lovie still mailing this gig in? How do you even make Illinois football successful? The person that turns around Illinois football should be Uber's next CEO. TOPICAL
Week 10 - at Indiana: I feel safe every August assuming Indiana will score a bunch of points but give up a bunch of points plus a million against any decent team.
Week 11 - Iowa: Get ready for all the TRAP GAME hot takes as Iowa comes to town a week before Michigan. Good thing Paul Chryst is the most boring, level, never-get-too-high-or-too-low dude.
Week 12 - No. 11 Michigan: I'll speak on behalf of everyone reading this right now: BEAT THESE DBAGS AND BEAT 'EM GOOD
Week 13 - at Minnesota: Annual reminder: the last time Minnesota beat Wisconsin, YouTube did not exist. I love that fact!
RANDOM MUSIC WE'RE DIGGING HARD THIS WEEK
https://youtu.be/ZGoh-drn2iQ
Oh yeah, the Darkness are back and they're bringing the HEAT. So good to have them dropping new shredders. This better guarantee a tour.
FRESHMEN TO WATCH
Jonathan Taylor, RB. A month ago it was just assumed he was redshirting. Running back is shaping up to be a big strength with the return of Brad Brad Bradrick Shaw (still working on it) and the arrival of Chris James (transfer from Pitt). But then Taylor went and busted a couple of 70+-yard touchdowns and it became clear he was just too damn talented to waste a redshirt. Plus, it's kinda foolish to expect an NFL-bound running back to redshirt and stick around for a senior season. The shirt is coming off, and I may or may not be talking about my shirt after he torches Michigan for 344 yards and 15 touchdowns. #ChooChooooooo
Danny Davis, WR. ALL THE FROSH SKILL POSITION PLAYERS! I know nothing about Davis that isn't just regurgitated Twitter and message board fodder. But I DO know that a freshman receiver on the two-deep is worth talking about. Yazz Peavy and Fooms will draw most of the targets, but there's certainly some room for the kid to get in there on jet sweeps and some third downs. Love me some double D action.
THIS SEASON IN HAIKU
Better schedule
Where "better" means "easier"
IT'S PLAYOFF OR BUST
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
https://youtu.be/sUUtK9FFIt4
I found this immensely enjoyable and fascinating.
#FOODPORN
Homemade skirt steaks, asparagüs, arugula salad, and Trader Joe's world famous garlic potatoes. God I love skirt steaks. I'm not sure there's an easier steak in the world to cook. And qué delicioso.
#SKYPORN
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVGgryCgHQn/
Few things beat a Northwoods sunset.
PREDICTION CITY
Great things come from humble beginnings. And nothing would be greater than Wisconsin's first trip the Playoff. I see no reason this year can't be that year we finally get over the annoying, proverbial hump. I'm way too sick of being on those "best teams to never win a national championship" lists. Those are the worst lists. It ends and it ends this year.
But before it ends, it must start. Friday night is that start. Buckle up. THE PICK:
WISCONSIN 93, Utah State 2
***
ON WISCONSIN
