Predict our 2022 final record
- Thread starter CatManTrue
- Start date
I’ll go with “playing for bowl eligibility against the Illini.”
Nonsense. I expect a down year again and it’s probably a 4 win team, but there are PLENTY of ways they get to 5. There aren’t facing the 85 Bears every week.
No, but our opponents are facing the 85 Cats, so to speak. /s
Only chance we have is it Hiliski makes a huge leap. Don't expect it, but it is theoretically possible
This team won two division titles in three years and in year five we’re debating whether a fifth win is even *possible*. Wowee.
I'm closer to Phat's thinking (3-ish wins) in my rational brain. I don't think we're a good team right now.
BUT I'm also hopeful that GCG could be on the mark with us having a bowl game on the line when we play Bert. I could see Fitz and our players shaking off last season's utter underachieving and come out with fire and a higher level of play... similarly to how we did in 20 after the shocking 2019 collapse. That was a different situation - covid year, we still had Fisher & Co/very good defense, etc. So I'm not saying we have any shot to win the West, or even win more than 6 games this year, even if the whole team overachieves. But we've seen Fitz's teams rebound and overachieve often. So I'm really hopeful some genuine rebound happens with at least a couple key position groups.
And I agree with Phat above that either Hilinski or Sullivan (or just maybe a TBD transfer) has to take a big leap this year. At least a Ramsey-like season. For that to happen the OL would almost have to play at least a full level up from last year, right?
So:
- IF the OL improves a LOT (with 2 or 3 new starters), and
- IF Hilinski/Sullivan/Richardson/Transfer improves a LOT, and
- IF Porter returns to being a big time power back, and
- IF at least one young receiver takes a big step forward (Washington? Kirtz? GHP? Purple Tron?), and
- IF Coach Jake tweaks the offense a little to create some more productivity, and
- IF the entire defense improves a WHOLE LOT, and
- IF we can pull out a couple close games, and
- IF we don't crap in our pants against the NonCon teams, and finally
- IF we show up in week 12 and kick Bert's ass...
.... we get to six wins.
Should be a piece of cake. Go Cats!
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Here's my ridiculous prediction..... Brendan Sullivan will be our starting QB this year. You heard it here first. (And then you will forget you heard it because it was so ridiculous, but then it happened and you sort of had a vague memory that someone had predicted it, but you won't remember who)
Wow! They predicted I'd predict this? Now, that is amazing.
So, either way, there's going to be a murder.
People here remember stuff. I was shouting from the rooftops that Bowser would be the starter as a Freshman, and people remembered. It was unfortunate circumstances (Larkin retirement) but he did it. Hey, I'd be happy to see Sullivan win the job because we kinda know the ceiling of the others, which is pretty low. Maybe he'll give us some balance to go with all of those good RB's. We can hope, anyway.
Pre-sesson, I was saying " we are closer to 0-12 than 6-6". I was a bit euphoric after Nebraska. Defense was shaky but not like last year. Offense looked good. Even after the annual Puke loss, I was ok. Now, not seeing many/any wins left.
I'd rather eat a murder of crows than be "right" about this, but this program is in bad shape. Good things might happen. Hilinski is better than I thought, albeit erratic. Hull and Porter are good, need to hold the ball. Defense has like 2 good players and the worst DC in the B1G. Again we have no kicker.
Might steal a couple, but it will be another bowl-less off-season.
From March of 2022--"Miami of Ohio L (always lose to a random MAC School) Fitz finally on the hotseat "Too many mental mistakes, turnovers, can't trust the kicking game."
This is VERBATIM what Fitz said last night. NU is 1-3 and the only thing I've missed us losing to Nebraska and beating SIU but the predictive quotes are accurate. Wait until PSU...
Yes Sir. Fully agreed with you before the season - closer to 0-12 than 6-6.... and then got really hopeful after beating Nebraska. But now.... losing to SIU and Miami.... Lord have mercy. Yup, I see one more win, that's if Purdue does their regular self destruct routine when we play them. Two if a miracle happens, which is possible with Iowa's QB problems.
For the record, I'm predicting 2-10. Wouldn't be at all surprised if we don't win again.
My bigger worry is a big player exodus after this season if Fitz doesn't go postal with some real changes, starting with JON.
The bad news is that I believe we finish 1 and 11. The "good" news is that I have some serious non-life threatening (I hope) medical issues that will prevent me from attending any games this season I could probably come out late in the season, but have no real desire to travel 450 miles to watch this team play. I get cranky enough at home watching on TV!
I am sorry about your health issues, but glad you don't have to witness this clown show. The crowd had zero energy. Most people probably attended out of inertia
We will either win one more game or none. Then we will have significant transfers and lose probably the best players in our recruiting class. So even if we make coaching changes we're looking at several more years of losing records.
Call me Nostradamus...
Wisconsin Big L Fitz-"We need guys to trust the process. They out physicalled us. Got guys dinged up. need guys back."
1-11 boys. Get ready for it!
Wisconsin Big L Fitz-"We need guys to trust the process. They out physicalled us. Got guys dinged up. need guys back."
1-11 boys. Get ready for it!
From ESPN's matchup predictor / football power index, here are the updated numbers for our chances to win the remaining games:
@ Maryland_______6.4%
@ Iowa_____________9.8%
vs Ohio State______1.4%
@ Minnesota______4.6%
@ Purdue__________6.9%
vs Illinois___________16.3%
@ Maryland_______6.4%
@ Iowa_____________9.8%
vs Ohio State______1.4%
@ Minnesota______4.6%
@ Purdue__________6.9%
vs Illinois___________16.3%
I think the main reason that chance is higher is because it's a home game. I doubt if FPI considers that we'll have barely any fans at the game.
It’s a rivalry game! Throw the records out. Bielema won’t know what hit him once JON unveils the master plan against OSU.
Called each one accurately in March...
Wisconsin Big L Fitz-"We need guys to trust the process. They out physicalled us. Got guys dinged up. need guys back."
(bye)
@Maryland L (this is a team on the rise) (Open speculation Fitz is out after Iowa)
"We're beat up and they executed against us. They have more maturity at the QB position"
@Iowa L Close loss Fitz still on hot seat. "Got some young guys out there who need to grow up and understand this is a rivalry game."
Wisconsin Big L Fitz-"We need guys to trust the process. They out physicalled us. Got guys dinged up. need guys back."
(bye)
@Maryland L (this is a team on the rise) (Open speculation Fitz is out after Iowa)
"We're beat up and they executed against us. They have more maturity at the QB position"
@Iowa L Close loss Fitz still on hot seat. "Got some young guys out there who need to grow up and understand this is a rivalry game."
You were close with each of these, but the cats were not close @ Iowa. They ran away with that one.
A month ago I predicted we might steal one against Purdue, or just maybe Iowa. Maryland actually was our best chance, with their good QB out.
Its still not out of the realm of possibility that Purdue doesn't show up against us and we somehow steal that game, but.... I honestly will be surprised if we lose by less than 20 in any of our last four games. Ohio State and Illinois..... Lord have serious mercy.
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I picked 3, I think, but have said, repeatedly, that we were closer to 0-12 than 6-6.
My only regret is that I was unable to figure out how to bet our "under" of W/L during a June trip to Vegas. That was easy money. I don't know how to gamble, apparently.
I bet big on the OVER in 2019 after 2018s season. Boy did I learn a lesson that year.
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