Monday can’t come fast enough here at MadTownBadgers, so because we’re so damn anxious and a bunch of self-described sports geeks here we decided to go to the ultimate source to tell us just how this season will play out for the Badgers, you know the source as EA Sports’ NCAA 13.
Wisconsin is a top 5 team in the game with a 99 overall ranking. They own the 2nd best offense in the game (behind USC), and have a top 5 defense. Here we give you our official sim of the Badgers’ season, according to NCAA 13. So we set our PS3 to sim and allowed it to do it’s work to tell us how the Badgers season turns out!
Before any games are played in the season, the Badgers are ranked 16th, and senior running back Montee Ball starts 2nd on the heisman list behind USC QB Matt Barkley.
Week 1
In real life the Badgers start there season out against Northern Iowa. But since they’re not in the game, we’ll be facing “FCS Midwest”, which is basically one of the 5 sim teams that represents all FCS schools. Well, this one got ugly to say the least.
Final Score: #16 Wisconsin 69, Northern Iowa (FCS Midwest) 3
Notable Stats: QB Danny O’Brien went 12-22 in passing and gained 174 yards with 3 TDs in his Wisconsin debut. Montee Ball had 71 yards on 9 carries and 2 TDs (was pulled early due to a minor injury). Backup RB James White (player of the game) exploded in this game for 194 yards on 32 carries and 3 TDs.
Week 2
Thanks to a loss from Clemson and Oregon getting upset by Arkansas State, the Badgers move up to #14 in the polls. Montee Ball stays at #2 on the Heisman list for now with other contenders also having slow starts. After his great week 1 performance, James White is surprisingly the nations 3rd leading rusher. This week brings on a trip to Oregon State to take on the Beavers.
Final Score: #14 Wisconsin 37, Oregon State 6.
Notable Stats: Player of the game Montee Ball had 103 yards on 18 carries and 1 TD, James White had 43 yards on 13 carries and 2 TDs, and WR Jared Abbrederis grabbed 6 receptions for 117 yards and a TD.
Week 3
After minimal movement in the rankings the Badgers remain #14, and Montee Ball remains 2nd in the Heisman after his solid performance. The Badgers return home this week for an outing against Utah State.
Final Score: #14 Wisconsin 52, Utah State 10
Notable Stats: Danny O’Brien 13-21 passing, 187 yards, and 3 TDs. Player of the Game Montee Ball went off for 157 yards rushing and 2 TDs, Ball also had 78 yards on 3 receptions and a TD.
Week 4
The Badgers moved up just one spot to #13 after the blowout over Utah State. This week they take on UTEP in their last non-conference game.
Final Score: #13 Wisconsin 49, UTEP 7
Notable Stats: Montee Ball finally had a heisman-like performance recording 144 yards rushing on 21 attempts and getting 4 TDs. James White also contributed on the ground with 132 yards and a TD.
Week 5
The Badgers move up to #11 in the polls this week after losses from previously #5 Michigan and #10 Kansas State. After his huge game last week, Montee Ball jumped Matt Barkley as the heisman favorite this week. Now the Badgers travel to Lincoln for a huge Big Ten opener against the also 4-0 Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Final Score: #11 Wisconsin 35, #16 Nebraska 21.
Notable Stats: Danny O’Brien passed for 301 yards going 15-31. Montee Ball had 96 yards on the ground on 11 attempts with 4 TDs.
Week 6
After the huge road win against Nebraska the Badgers jump up 5 spots to take the #6 rank. Montee Ball remains the heisman favorite with South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore right on his tail. This week the Badgers return home for an outing against 3-2 Illinois.
Final Score: #6 Wisconsin 16, Illinois 10.
Notable Stats: Player of the Game Montee Ball had 154 yards and a TD on 23 attempts. The Badgers defense had 5 sacks and an interception, while kicker Kyle French went 3/3 on field goals.
Week 7
Halfway through the regular season the Badgers are undefeated with a 6-0 record. After losses from #2 USC and #4 South Carolina, and a jump of #5 LSU, the Badgers are now #3 in the polls with a trip to 4-1 Purdue up this week. Of course, Montee Ball is still your heisman favorite.
Final Score: #3 Wisconsin 37, Purdue 7
Notable Stats: Danny O’Brien 18-31 passing for 299 yards and 4 TDs. Montee Ball had a bad game after getting hurt early, only picking up 29 yards on 7 carries. James White and Melvin Gordon picked up the rushing load though, combining for 162 yards on 29 carries.
Week 8
For the first time in school history, the 7-0 Badgers are now ranked #1 in the polls after losses from Arkansas and Oklahoma. Despite his minor injury, Montee Ball is still the heisman leader, with OSU QB Braxton Miller right on his tail. This week the Badgers return to Madison for their 2 game home stand, starting with the Battle for Paul Bunyon’s axe.
Final Score: Wisconsin 44, Minnesota 13.
Notable Stats: Montee Ball had another slow game with 72 yards on 13 carries with a TD. TE Jacob Pederson caught 9 balls for 104 yards and 2 TDs. Danny O’Brien had 272 yards passing going 22-33 with 3 TDs.
Week 9
The 8-0 Badgers are still #1 in the polls getting 39 of the 61 first place votes. TCU (7-0) and Mississippi State (7-0) hold the #2 and #3 rankings respectively. In the first BCS ranking, the Badgers are also #1. Despite two bad weeks, Montee Ball is still at the top of the Heisman boards. Could the Badgers be Miami bound for the national championship? This week will be very crucial to that quest, with #20 Michigan State coming to town.
Final Score: #1 Wisconsin 35, #20 Michigan State 3
Notable Stats: Montee Ball looked like himself again, with 188 yards and a TD on 22 carries. The Badger defense was the real player of the game though, recording 6 sacks and 16 tackles for losses.
Week 10
The Badgers remain #1 as they are now 9-0 with a 5-0 conference record. Montee Ball resurected his Heisman Campaign once again after his huge week 9 performance. This week they have a much deserved bye, as they gear up for the final quarter of the season.
BYE
Week 11
The Badgers are at Indiana this week to face the 3-6 Hoosiers.
Final Score: #1 Wisconsin 38, Indiana 17.
Notable Stats: James White 197 yards on 28 attempts and 3 TDs, Montee Ball only 6 attempts and 47 yards.
Week 12
The #1 Badgers (10-0) welcome rival #21 Ohio State (7-3) to town for the last home game of the season.
Final Score: #1 Wisconsin 49, Ohio State 42.
Notable Stats: Danny O’Brien 15-27, 250 yards and 3 TDs. Player of the game James White with 237 all purpose yards, 1 kick return TD. Montee Ball 71 yards on 13 attempts and 1 TD.
Week 13
After the shootout victory against OSU the Badgers are 11-0 with a big opportunity. Can the Badgers complete their first perfect regular season in school history with a win over Penn State (7-4)?
Final Score: #1 Wisconsin 35, Penn State 7
Notable Stats: Danny O’Brien 19-31 passing, 304 yards and 4 TDs (3 of those to Jacob Pederson). James White 110 yards rushing on 19 attempts, and Montee Ball 45 yards and a TD on 11 carries.
Big Ten Championship
After the perfect 12-0 season, the #1 Badgers are a win away from a BCS championship birth. They’ll take on #17 Michigan (8-4, 5-3 B1G) for the Big Ten Championship.
Final Score: #1 Wisconsin 44, #17 Michigan 13
Notable Stats: A group effort by the Badgers results in a blowout. Abbrederis, Ball, White, and Gordon all had 1 rushing TD, while Danny O’Brien went 13-24 and had 162 yards and 1 TD.
THAT’S RIGHT… A THIRD STRAIGHT BIG TEN TITLE! And a blowout too!
Awards
Heisman: After a few bad games the Heisman was anything but a lock for Montee Ball. After all the votes were in, Collin Klein of Kansas State won the Heisman in the closest race of all time, beating Montee 1532 to 1530 in total votes.
Awards won by Badgers:
Doak Walker (Best RB): Montee Ball
Outland Trophy (Best Interior Lineman): Ricky Wagner
Rimington Trophy (Best Center): Travis Frederick
1st team All-Americans: RB Montee Ball, LT Ricky Wagner, LG Ryan Groy, C Travis Frederick, RG Casey Dehn, RE Brendan Kelly, DT Ethan Hemer, MLB Chris Borland
2nd team All-Americans: TE Jacob Pedersen, RT Rob Havenstein, Punter Drew Meyer, Returner Jared Abbrederis
Notes: That’s right, the Badgers ENTIRE offense line are all americans, including 4/5 being first team.
Bowl Season – BCS National Championship Game
After 13 straight wins the Badgers put their perfect record on the line in Miami for a chance at the national title. They’ll be facing off against the Pac-12 champions, the only other undefeated team, the #2 Utah Utes (13-0).
Quarter One: The Ute’s took the first lead late in the first quarter with a long drive and TD run. At the end of the first, it was 7-0 Utah.
Quarter Two: Back to back drives ended in Jacob Pederson TD receptions for the Badgers, who took the 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter. A 54 yard Kyle French field goal capped off the half for the Badgers, who held a 17-7 lead at the break.
Quarter Three: Isaiah Williams scored early on a TD catch for the Badgers, but the Utes responded quickly with another TD. The next drive the Badgers scored on another Jacob Pederson TD, which again was responded with a Utah TD run. 31-21 Badgers after 3.
Quarter Four: A Montee Ball TD run gave the Badgers a comfy 17 point lead eary in the 4th, but the Utes weren’t done. They responded with a field goal and another touchdown to make it 38-31 Wisconsin with 7 minutes to play. But an old fashion grind it out Wisconsin drive that ended with yet another Pederson TD clinched the Badgers’ first National Title.
Final Score: #1 Wisconsin 45, #2 Utah 31.
Notable Stats: Montee Ball 144 yards on 26 attempts and 1 TD. Player of the game Jacob Pederson had 115 yards and 4 TDs on 6 receptions.
That’s it! Your Wisconsin Badgers are the 2012 NCAA champions! I’d like to reiterate that this was a total sim and I did not tamper with any stats or ratings. Through a group effort the Badgers dominated all of their opponents in route to being champions. I hope this NCAA 13 sim is VERY accurate! Thanks for reading if you’ve made it this far and On Wisconsin!
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
