BTN analysts see no reason Wisconsin can't finish on top of the Big Ten West Division
MADISON – The Big Ten Network’s crew of Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith completed it’s 14-campus tour with a visit to Madison on Saturday.
The consensus?
No reason Wisconsin can’t win the Big Ten West in the first year under Luke Fickell.
“I think it’s very reasonable and it wasn’t how I came into the tour,” DiNardo said during the network’s coverage of UW’s practice on Saturday. “So, my mind was changed today. Wisconsin seems to be the deepest (West) team that we’ve seen.
“I love what they’re doing offensively and defensively. I love their schedule. Their crossovers are Indiana, Rutgers and Ohio State. I think that’s three great crossovers for this team.
“So to me, most impressive of the seven schools in the West was Wisconsin.”
The Badgers are a slight favorite over Iowa to win the West, according to the Cleveland.com poll. UW received 20 first-place votes and 233 points overall. The Hawkeyes received 16 first-place votes and 232 points overall.
“I think you walk away from here thinking this team is going to be in the very thick of it,” Griffith said. “I had questions just like you did. Wasn’t quite sure where they would be. I wasn’t quite sure how the offensive line would perform. Quarterback had some questions. What was going to happen at the wide receiver position?
“And this is a team I saw in the spring. And they looked so much better today than when I saw them in the spring. So that speaks to the culture that has been developed, the coaching staff getting these guys prepared…
“When you start to look at the schedule, when you start to look at the personnel that is on this roster, there is no reason that they won’t be in the thick of it.”
DiNardo expects a wild, three-team race in the East Division. Michigan is favored to win its third consecutive league title.
“I thought going into the tour that Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State have never been that close talent-wise and competitive-wise,” DiNardo said. “I come out of the tour confirmed that those three are on the same level. I wouldn’t be surprised if they all had one loss and it was to each other.”
What factor does Griffith think will determine the West?
“It’s going to come down to quarterback play in the West,” he said. “That’s just absolutely what’s going to happen. And there are some quarterbacks that are going to make a lot of plays. There are teams that we believe that are going to play good defense. And it will be wide open.”
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What BTN Network said about Wisconsin football after Madison visit
