Wisconsin Badgers: College football's most overlooked team?

Who is the most overlooked team in college football today?

For now, it could be the Wisconsin Badgers.

Sure, the Badgers went their typical 3-0 in non-conference games by beating teams they were supposed to.

But Wisconsin’s impressive 38-30 win over Michigan State in last week's Big Ten opener (the Badgers led by 21 points late in the game) showed that they might be a team to reckon with in 2009.

Of course, the Badgers will find out a lot about themselves in the next two weeks when they play their first road games of the season at Minnesota and The Ohio State. Yet with the way this young team is playing right now, don’t be surprised if Wisconsin beats Minnesota and gives Ohio State all that it can handle.

What’s most noteworthy about the Badgers is that they are winning with a very young team.

Junior QB Scott Tolzien has completed two-thirds of his 99 passes for eight TDs with just two interceptions. Sophomore running back John Clay is averaging 99.5 yards per game and has four TDs.

Sophomore wide receiver Nick Toon (18 catches-236 yards-2 TDs) is the son of former NFL standout Al Toon. Tight end Garrett Graham, one of the few senior starters on the team, has 16 catches including four TDs.

And if you watched the Badgers on ESPN last week, you noticed No. 53 was all over the field on defense. He’s linebacker Mike Taylor, a freshman.

Wisconsin received enough votes (20) to be 32nd in this week’s Associated Press poll, one spot ahead of Notre Dame.

The Badgers may not have made a name for themselves yet, but they could very well do so in the next two weeks.

Wilhelm is key to 2007 Chargers

Remember the name Matt Wilhelm.

He will make or break the 2007 San Diego Chargers.

Not Philip Rivers. Not LaDainian Tomlinson. Not Clinton Hart.

No, it all comes down to how well Wilhelm plays at inside linebacker in place of the departed Donnie Edwards.

You remember Edwards. He’s the one always criticized by the San Diego Union-Tribune for making tackles downfield; but he’s always the one who seemed to save the game to those watching through unbiased eyes.

Wilhelm may not play much in Sunday night’s exhibition opener against the Seattle Seahawks, yet he’ll certainly see plenty of action come September when it counts.

A fourth-round pick out of The Ohio State University in 2003, Wilhelm has 73 career tackles. That’s fewer tackles than Edwards makes in a normal half-season.

However, Wilhelm has been patiently waiting his turn which finally starts coming Sunday.

His response may very well determine just how far the Chargers go in 2007.