College Football Betting Odds

Wisconsin Names Starting QB - August 21st, 2008

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook

Another high-profile quarterback race has been decided, with Allan Evridge getting the call as Wisconsin’s top signal-caller. Evridge, a fifth-year senior, beat out junior Dustin Sherer and sophomore Scott Tolzien as the team released its depth chart for the upcoming season.

“Really, ever since spring ball, Allan’s been in the huddle, he’s been able to make calls, he’s had game adjustments,” Badgers coach Bret Bielema said.

“He’s definitely got a lot of ability. What he’s been able to do these first couple weeks of camp is separate himself, being able to manage and handle the game. We want him to make good decisions. We don’t need him to be an all-star, we just need him to make the plays that are out there, make the right throws.”

Evridge threw for 1,365 yards and six touchdowns at Kansas State in 2005. After transferring to Wisconsin, he sat out the 2006 season and then spent last season as a backup to Tyler Donovan, appearing in seven games and completing 5 of 12 passes for 66 yards.

Evridge missed part of training camp with a hamstring injury and looked shaky during last Saturday's scrimmage. However, neither Sherer nor Tolzien did enough in camp to move past Evridge.

 

Experience was definitely the deciding factor for Bielema. Evridge was also in competition for the QB job last summer with Donovan, who was named starter at this time last year and led UW to a 9-4 record.

Sherer, meanwhile, appeared in only one game last, taking a knee at the end of a victory over Indiana. He has played briefly in three games over the last two seasons and is 0 for 3 with one interception. Sherer is listed as the No. 2, but Bielema stressed that job remains open and that Sherer, Tolzien and redshirt freshman James Stallons will continue competing for it.

“If we had to play a game tomorrow,” Bielema said, “Dustin would be the guy based on experience.”

The Badgers open the season Aug. 30 against Akron and are 26-point favorites at WagerWeb.com.