As we near the start of Wisconsin's season, the BadgerBlitz.com staff has assembled our predictions for 2017. Who do we think will win the Big Ten? What type of season will UW have? What players will take home the conference player of the year honors and the Heisman Trophy? Here's all of our predictions for the 2017 season.

GORMAN: This has to be Michigan running away. Even if Wisconsin is at home, the Wolverines will likely be favored coming off a 10-3 season including a victory over Wisconsin in Ann Arbor. That said, this Michigan team should be worse than last year’s, and the Badgers will have more than a fighting chance this go around.

VELDHUIS: For me it’s the game against Michigan on Nov. 18. They get it at home, which is good for UW, but Jim Harbaugh’s roster is loaded with talent, even if they don’t have a ton of returning experience this season. But they’ll be plenty experienced by late November, so in a sense it’s probably better to play Michigan earlier than later this year. But if the Badgers can win that game it should bode well for the rest of their season - and if they’re 10-0 coming in to that week, the atmosphere in Madison for the game should be electric.

MILLS: Not only is this battle between BIG Ten foes, it’s a grudge match between what figures to be eventual AP Top 25 powerhouses. Despite losing safety Jabrill Peppers and many others, head coach Jim Harbaugh knows how to run a football team. It will be an uphill climb for head coach Paul Chryst and the Badgers once the opening whistle blows.

MCNAMARA: Traveling to Minnesota to close the season is a scary game, especially if Wisconsin is undefeated. And if P.J. Fleck beats Wisconsin in Year 1 to snap UW's lengthy win streak between the two programs, his job may be secure for the next 10 years.

GORMAN: I think Iowa has been too dormant for too long. With Wisconsin native Nathan Stanley under center and preseason All-American Josey Jewell captaining the defense, Iowa could be in for a bigger year than most expect.

VELDHUIS: I think Northwestern will give the Badgers a run for their money in the Big Ten West. They bring back quarterback Clayton Thorson and running back Justin Jackson, along with a few other starters from last year. It’ll make Wisconsin’s conference opener against the Wildcats very important - whoever wins that game could well be in the driver’s seat for the division, although Northwestern’s overall schedule is harder than Wisconsin’s.

MILLS: Pat Fitzgerald returns 16 starters and with quarterback Clayton Thorson (3,182 yards, 22 touchdowns) at the helm, there is experience as well as skill. Additionally, the Wildcats avoid Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State in 2017. This is a team that could give Wisconsin a headache in the Big Ten West.

MCNAMARA: I feel like I've picked Northwestern for the last 10 years in this category. And, honestly, the Wildcats should have a good 2017 season. So I'm going with Maryland, which has recruited at a better clip under D.J. Durkin. They do open with Texas and also have to play Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, but the Terps could surprise this season.

GORMAN: Big Ten offensive player of the yearI am fully on board the Saquan Barkley bandwagon. Barkley is an absolute stud, and will power what should be the Big Ten’s most potent offense in 2017. Barkley is strong, fast and an absolute load to bring down in the open field. He will be making and NFL team happy in the near future.

VELDHUIS: I think JT Barrett could have a really special senior season for the Buckeyes, especially since they return a lot of offensive talent and they’re bringing in ex-Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson as their new offensive coordinator. Wilson’s offenses have been prolific, even if Indiana’s defense wasn’t up to snuff, and I doubt the tools he’s had to work with were as talented as the Buckeyes will be. Barrett will be one fun weapon for the OSU coaches to use this year, although Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley could be primed for another huge year as well.

MILLS: He finished with 1,496 yards. He finished with double-digit carries in 20 out of 21 games last season. He understands where and how to run. He could, barring injury, be a Heisman candidate. He is Saquon Barkley.

MCNAMARA: I'm not going to argue against Barkley. If he can stay healthy, he's the easy pick here.

GORMAN: About a month ago I would have gone with Jack Cichy, but I’ll put the above mentioned Josey Jewell in here now. Coming off a 124-tackle season, Jewell is the prototypical Big Ten middle linebacker, and makes plays all over the field for the Hawkeyes.

VELDHUIS: Indiana linebacker Tegray Scales is my pick, after he led the nation in tackles for loss last year with 23.5. He’s been an under-the-radar star for a while now, and I think he’ll have another breakout year on this way out the door at Indiana before heading off to the NFL.

MILLS: Amongst a sometimes-pitiful Iowa team lies a diamond in the rough in the form of Josey Jewell. He totaled 124 tackles as a junior and was a 2016 Butkus Award Finalist. He is the duct tape that holds the Iowa defense together and it is time he is recognized for it.

MCNAMARA: What about T.J. Edwards, who has quietly led the Badgers in tackles the past two seasons? The award could go to the best defensive player on the best team in the conference.

GORMAN: Lamar Jackson is back, but it’s just so hard for a player to repeat as Heisman winner, so I’ll go with Baker Mayfield. He’s playing in a dynamic offense, and has weapons all over the field for Oklahoma.

VELDHUIS: USC quarterback Sam Darnold is my Heisman pick for this year. He was awesome in USC’s Rose Bowl win over Penn state last year, and if he plays up to people’s expectations then he’ll have a great chance to be a Heisman finalist and potentially the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

MILLS: Mason Rudolph is the leading force behind OSU’s offense and success. During his time as a starter, he has accumulated a 22-6 record and shows leadership in the locker room. In 2016, he had 4,091 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Tack on 61 yards rushing with six touchdowns and you have a well-rounded player who can only be better. He’s a dark horse candidate for sure, but one you should not be surprised if he holds the trophy.

MCNAMARA: Rarely does the preseason favorite actually capture the award. So while Darnold is supremely talented, I'll go with Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts, who completed 62.8 percent of his passes last season with 23 touchdowns. He also ran for 954 yards and 13 scores.

GORMAN: 12-1. I think Wisconsin drops a game early in the season, possibly to Northwestern, but then trucks through the remaining competition to have a shot at a playoff birth.

VELDHUIS: I have the Badgers at 12-0 in the regular season, but losing to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. I think this team is really talented and will take advantage of a softer-than-normal schedule, but I don’t know that I could predict they go undefeated and win the conference until I see it happen first. Either way it should be a very interesting season for the Badgers, and the hype around the team this year is definitely deserved.

MILLS: (9-3, 6-3 in conference play) Although Wisconsin’s schedule is arguably lighter than last year’s, the team is without key contributors. Gone are Corey Clement, T.J. Watt and Vince Biegel. Despite Alex Hornibrook assimilating into a starter role, any injury to a veteran leader could give way to many young and inexperienced players on the field. Their record still holds strong enough for a BIG Ten Championship appearance, though.

MCNAMARA: 12-2. Wisconsin will have one loss in the regular season, a defeat in the Big Ten title game and a win in its bowl game.

GORMAN: Rose Bowl. I’m bullish on the Badgers this year. The team doesn’t seem to have any glaring holes, and there’s no reason to think they have every shot of making into the CFB playoff.

VELDHUIS: Orange Bowl vs. Clemson

MILLS: The Wisconsin Badgers will repeat as Cotton Bowl Champions. Coach Paul Chryst understands how to maneuver a team and defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard is resourceful enough to deal with lagging injuries throughout the season.

MCNAMARA: Rose Bowl vs. Washington

GORMAN: Oklahoma Sooners beat USC Trojans. Betting big on arguably the two top quarterbacks in the country here, as Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold will power their way to the national championship game, with the dynamic Mayfield giving his team the edge.

VELDHUIS:

1 Alabama vs. 4 Florida State

2 Ohio State vs. 3 USC

Alabama over Ohio State in the National Championship Game

MILLS: Washington Huskies 34, Alabama Crimson Tide 31

The Huskies are not receiving a lot of national coverage - that is OK. An underdog story makes for an exciting season. They return the Pac-12’s leading total defense, pass defense and points per game allowed rank. Their schedule is significantly weaker and play Rutgers to start the 2017 season on a good note. Alabama is yet again a strong football team under Nick Saban, but this is a Huskies team that has showed it is ready to take the next step as a program. A national championship victory should do the trick.

MCNAMARA: Alabama vs. Ohio State | Florida State vs. USC

Alabama over USC