ESPN's FPI updates Wisconsin's chances for B1G CG, CFP following second cancellation
Wisconsin is still battling an outbreak of COVID-19 as the team announced the cancellation of the Week 3 game against Purdue.
That cancellation marks the second straight for the Badgers as Paul Chryst’s team did not play Nebraska in Week 2. Considering the regular season was only eight games long, it is now imperative that Wisconsin slows the spread of the virus and is cleared to resume play in Week 4.
Failure to play Michigan on Nov. 14 would guarantee the Badgers fall below the six-game threshold necessary to qualify for the B1G Championship Game.
Obviously, the big spotlight right now is on the health and safety of Wisconsin’s players. But should the team get past this outbreak smoothly, the rest of the season still looks bright according to ESPN’s FPI.
As long as Wisconsin resumes play in Week 4, the FPI is projecting the Badgers to have a 40.4% chance to make the College Football Playoff. The odds to win the B1G West are also incredibly high at over 70%.
Looking at the game-by-game odds, the FPI has Wisconsin heavily favored in every remaining game the rest of the way. Weeks 4 and 5 are anticipated to be the hardest fought games remaining on the road at Michigan and at Northwestern.
Here are the game projections for the rest of the season:
- Nov. 14 at Michigan – 83.1%
- Nov. 21 at Northwestern – 82.9%
- Nov. 28 vs Minnesota – 95.7%
- Dec. 5 vs Indiana – 84.5%
- Dec. 12 at Iowa – 88.0%