Ticket King Wisconsin – Sports – Concerts & Theater

We have just one game left in the college football season, and it is an all-SEC National Championship between Alabama and Georgia. The Las Vegas books give the edge to Alabama, although that could flip here in the final 24 hours. Right now, they are giving Alabama a four-point edge. Putting the betting side, let’s get into some real analysis.

The Georgia Bulldogs are definitely not supposed to be here. They beat a heavily favored Oklahoma Team on New Year’s Day, led by their Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield, in a wild game. The Bulldogs are led by a good defense, and on the other side of the ball with an elite running back. The leader of that backfield is Nick Chubb, who ran for 1,320 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Behind him is Sony Michel, who ran 1,129 yards and 16 touchdowns. They also have a third running back, a freshman named D’Andre Swift who ran for 603 yards and three touchdowns this season. The real story with this team is their quarterback, Jacob Fromm. Just a true freshman, Fromm is considered a future number one overall draft choice, and was supposed to redshirt this season. Due to injuries, he got the job, and has had a marvelous season. Fromm threw for 2,383 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He took the job, never looked back, and solidified that future number one draft choice even more. The countdown is on to 2020, when he will be draft eligible.

On the flip side, you have the flagship program in college football, the powerhouse Alabama Crimson Tide. Unlike the Bulldogs, they were supposed to be here all season, and until getting taken out to the woodshed and whacked by Auburn on Thanksgiving weekend, they were the number one team all season. Due to a crazy last couple of weeks, The Tide snuck into the playoffs as the fourth team, and beat Clemson last week to advance. As previously stated, they are the favorites heading into tonight. They are led by their elite defense, and sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has lost just twice so far in his career. Damien Harris led the way with 983 yards and 11 touchdowns this season on the ground. Hurts added 808 yards and 8 touchdowns. Final Score: 31-20 Alabama

It’s that time of year again! The Milwaukee Brewers have announced their 2018 promotional games and giveaways. On April 22, all fans will receive an Eric Thames bobble-head. For Sunday May 6, the first 20,000 fans will receive a Brewers lightweight hoodie. May 25, the first 20,000 fans will receive a Brewers hat.

Up next are a few interesting and unique items fans might want to get in line for. First, on May 27, all fans will receive a “Travis Shaw Mayor of Ding Dong City” bobble-head. Next on June 17 the first 20,000 fans will receive a “Mini Replica Bullpen Car.” On June 24, all fans will receive a Gauntlet bobble-head. For the game on July 2, the first 10,000 fans age 21 or over will get a wall flag.

On July 8, all fans will receive a Robin Yount replica jersey from the 1970’s, so don’t miss out on that one. After that we have two more unique items. First a “Ryan Braun Starting Lineup” figurine on July 22. Two weeks later, on August 5, maybe the most unique, bizarre, and fun item of the season. All fans will receive a “Bob Uecker Talking Bottle Opener.” In September all kids will get a puzzle cube on the 9^th. To finish out the promotions First 10,000 fans will get a hat on the 15^th, and on the 16^th the first 20,000 fans will get a Crew neck sweatshirt. There are plenty of chances for fans to get out to the ballpark in 2018. We hope to see you there!

Longtime great country music signer Kenny Chesney is coming to Miller Park on April 28, 2018. This tour stop is part of the “Trip Around The Sun” in 2018, which is scheduled to begin April 21 in Tampa, Florida. The Miller Park show will then be the second stop on his tour. Following the Miller Park concert, Chesney will head for Minneapolis on May 5, before heading south for shows in Texas. On May 17^th he will be in Woodlands at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Two days later he will be at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The tour will finish with back-to-back performances at Gillette Stadium on Boston on the 24^th and 25^thof August. Opening for Chesney on this tour will be the likes of Thomas Rhett, Old Dominion, and Brandon Lay.

Since his career began back in 1994, Chesney has recorded 20 albums, 14 of which have been certified Gold. His most recent Album, Cosmic Halleluiah, released in March of 2016, topped out at number one on the country charts and sold 235,000 copies. The interesting aspect of Chesney’s career is that unlike many musicians in his position who burst onto the scene, his career started out like many struggling artists. His first two albums failed to make it onto any notable lists, and it wasn’t until his fifth album that he cracked the top five on the country music charts. As the decade turned to the 2000’s, his career went from average to incredible. His last nine albums have topped out at number one on the country charts.

On “Conference Championship Saturday,” the Wisconsin Badgers dream season came to a halt. They entered the Big Ten title game unbeaten, taking on Ohio State, a team that already had two losses on the year. After an injury scare the week before, Buckeye quarterback and NFL draft prospect J.T. Barrett was deemed fit to play, and he certainly did. He wasn’t great, but he did just enough. The Buckeyes got a big night from running back J.K. Dobbins, to the tune of 17 carries for 174 yards with a long of 77. The same question that always haunts the Badgers is the same question that took them out of the college football playoff in this game- They pad their record against inferior opponents, and every time (or almost every time,) they play a good team, they wind up losing. That was the case again this time. The Badgers then missed out on the college football playoff, and will play in the Orange Bowl on December 30 against Miami. The question that faces the Badgers is the same question that they always face when they step outside of conference to play a team in Florida, the SEC, or a California-based PAC-12 team. Do they have enough speed as a team to keep up with their opponent?  

Final Score: 34-27 Miami.

Let’s take a look at the other Big Ten bowl games.

Pinstripe Bowl – Iowa vs. Boston College

Another year, and another solid season for the Hawkeyes, who finished 7-5. Boston College, after an abysmal 2016 campaign, came back from the dead this season, finishing 7-5. It should be a low scoring, but solid game.

Final Score: 20-16 Iowa.

Holiday Bowl, – Michigan State vs. Washington State

Man, these Holiday Bowl matchups are always so much fun, and this edition will be no different. In this one we have the powerhouse Washington State offense vs the mighty Spartan defense. Who budges first? 

Final Score: 27-24 Michigan State

Music City Bowl – Northwestern vs. Kentucky

Of all of the Big Ten bowl games, this one should be one of the least interesting. This is one of Pat Fitzgerald’s best Northwestern teams ever, and it features a quarterback draft prospect named Clayton Thorson who has come flying out of nowhere to a potential first round projection.

Final Score: 34-17 Northwestern

Cotton Bowl, USC vs. Ohio State

This game is going to be a classic. The top overall prospect on the board, USC quarterback Sam Darnold goes up against Ohio State. J.T. Barrett isn’t too shabby in his own right, and this game will give him an opportunity build his own draft stock.

Final Score: 31-28 USC

Fiesta Bowl  – Washington vs. Penn State

This is going to be another classic. Washington quarterback Jake Browning, another in this loaded quarterback draft class, gets one more chance to improve his draft stock against Penn State, who features the best running back in the country, Saquon Barkley, who is currently projected to go second in the draft behind USC’s Sam Darnold.

Final Score: 30-24 Washington

Outback Bowl, Michigan vs. South Carolina

Simply put, these two teams are going to beat each other into an oblivion in this game, and points will be at a premium.

Final Score: 16-13 Michigan

It’s December here in Wisconsin, and for sports fans, that means Badgers football is coming down the stretch, Badgers basketball is in full swing, the young and talented Milwaukee Bucks are off to a solid start. And of course, there are the Milwaukee Admirals, considered to be one of the better minor league sports teams in the country, known for its fan experience and atmosphere. Let’s have a little “water cooler” talk on all of them.

The Wisconsin Badgers football team is having another fine season. To this point they are 12-0, unbeaten, and headed for a showdown with the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big 10 Championship game this weekend. If the Badgers win, they will be in the college football playoffs. If not, they still have an outside chance, but a very slim one. It all comes down to what the committee thinks. The Badgers, as usual, are led by a strong running game. Running back Jonathan Taylor is third in the country with 1,806 rushing yards at the moment. They also have yet another great defense, which has only let Northwestern (with quarterback Clayton Thorson who is considered as a possible top-two round draft choice next May,) score over 20 points on them this season. They will need both Taylor and that stout defense to come out on top Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Badgers basketball team, which has been one of the best in the country the last few years, is not expected to have as good of a season as their last few. They currently sit at 3-4, and have lost to those four games to ranked teams. Their three wins came against South Carolina State, Yale, and Milwaukee. Still, they have plenty of time to prove the doubters wrong.

The Milwaukee Bucks are off to a 10-9 start this season. There have been some ups, some downs, and currently holding the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, although it’s very early. They need to find a way to squeeze out a few more points per game. They currently stand with the fourth lowest scoring offense in the Eastern Conference, at 102.9 points per game. This number puts them as the worst of the current playoff contenders. They can’t ask anything more of the likes of Giannis or Khris Middleton. Maybe someone off that bench, such as Thon Maker or John Henson, can give them a few more points per game.

If you are looking for an outing with some family or friends, but you are on a budget, the Milwaukee Admirals might be just the ticket for you. The team is off to a good start this season. They currently sit at 11-8, good for second place in the AHL’s Central Division. The Admirals haven’t scored a ton of goals, but they haven’t given up a ton either. They are currently tied for the AHL’s seventh-best defense, with just 53 goals allowed. Their roster currently features some promising young talent, such as 20-year-old Russian Yakov Trenin, 20-year-old winger Anthony Richard, and 21-year-old defensemen Jack Dougherty.

Tonight the Packers return from a welcome bye week and host the Lions at Lambeau Field. This will be the second start for quarterback Brett Hundley, who took over for an injured Aaron Rodgers three weeks ago in Minnesota. Depending on how the Packers play, Hundley could be the quarterback for the rest of the season. Here is our preview.

Brett Hundley– In his first career start against the Saints, Hundley showed flashes of his natural talent, especially when Mike McCarthy was creative in his play calling. He also looked a bit lost, and repeatedly failed to see open receivers in that first start. Having Aaron Rodgers in the building from this point forward will be a boost to the entire team, but especially Hundley. Hundley needs to play better, with consistency, for the entire game.

Mike McCarthy- McCarthy also needs to be much better tonight. McCarthy’s play calling was great in the first half. He mixed it up, he got creative, and the Packers ran the ball. Hundley benefited from the fact that the Packers consistently moved the ball down the field the entire first half. But in the second half, McCarthy reverted back to his “base 22” offensive scheme. It’s a conservative style of play calling that he is known to ask for at times. It’s basically meant to clear the way for Rodgers to see the field and respond based on the defense. However this is Brett Hundley, not Aaron Rodgers. He needs to ditch base 22 for the rest of the season.  

Aaron Jones– The first month of the season, Jones was sitting on the bench. Now he is a fantasy football superstar. Jones needs to keep running with the same authority he has the last few games. The Packers may have found their long-term solution at running back.

Defense- The Packers defense has been playing better the last few weeks, and getting healthier at the same time. If this team is going to survive, and give themselves a chance for Rodgers to return to the lineup in December, they need all hands on deck. The defense needs to keep up its recent performance.

How the Packers win: The Packers have a shot at a win because this Lions defense is bad, and badly banged up at the moment. Aaron Jones would need to run for over 150 yards, and Brett Hundley needs to take care of the football, all game long. Mike McCarthy will improve his play calling and the Packers will win.

How the Packers could lose: This is a team that is designed to be led to victory by great quarterback play. You can’t just switch a team’s playing style mid-season and expect it to work flawlessly. This team is not used to the Hundle

The Green Bay Packers were 4-1 entering the NFC North showdown in Minnesota against the Vikings. With the way the rest of the NFC is, or was playing at that moment, the Packers appeared to be taking control of the NFC as they got healthier. And then one play changed everything.

When Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone, the football world was stunned. The anger vented by many Packers fans in the following moments was understandable. Rodgers himself had expressed his frustration regarding the matter. Every “expert” on the planet was quick to pronounce the Packers season as “over” which could be true, depending on how Brett Hundley plays. The general consensus right now is that this is the worst thing in the world that has ever happened to the Packers. However, now that the dust has settled, our in-house analyst T.J. Bryce doesn’t see it that way. The following is his take on the Packers’ future.

Pain. Anger. Rage. Resentment. Frustration. Sadness. Sorrow. Depression. These are some of the many emotions that were flying around in the moments following the devastating diagnosis that Aaron Rodgers had a broken collarbone, and would in all likelihood miss the rest of the season. As my emotions began to settle down in the coming days, I was able to fully process what had happened. Then I examined the full scope of the situation, and it hit me, this is not going to be the worst thing to happen to the Packers in the long haul. In fact, in its own unique way, it may be a good thing.

At this point, let me clear up some possible confusion. How can Aaron Rodgers breaking his collarbone not be the worst thing to happen to the Packers? And for that matter, how can it be a good thing?

Aaron Rodgers has said he would like to play until he is 40, just like Peyton Manning did, just like Tom Brady has. I have always questioned that. Playing until you are 40 is more about your style of play than it is about your skill to begin with. Both Brady and Manning have been able to do this because of their style of play. Neither one of them relied on natural athletic ability like Rodgers does to be successful. Neither one of them has taken the pounding that Rodgers has. In fact, Peyton Manning was the master of the “self sack,” meaning that if he realized a sack was inevitable, he would take a slide and once he does the play is over, he can’t be touched, rather than take an unnecessary hit. In comparison, Rodgers could have six pass rushers coming at him and he would still be thinking “How can in the world can I get out of this and still make a play?”

For 10 years we have raved about Aaron Rodgers’ skill set, and his great ability to make miraculous escapes and still make plays. His ability to combine incredible arm strength with lethal precision. How well he takes care of the football, despite putting up absurd numbers. At the same time, for as great as this is, it also comes with a price, and this style of play exposes him to many a potential injury. Let’s face it, because after all, it’s pretty much a fact, Aaron Rodgers is not exactly the most durable quarterback ever. This is now his third major injury, his second broken collarbone, he has had two concussions, and has a history of hamstring issues. Oh yeah, he is going to be 34-years-old in December and is not getting any younger.

What am I getting at? It is time for the Packers to face reality. As I stated before, I have never believed for a moment Rodgers would play until he is 40. All of these injuries have probably taken a year off of his career. This latest collarbone injury, because of its severity and the fact that it is on his throwing shoulder, probably took another year off of his career. So where does that leave us? I say he’s got just three to four years left on his career. The math lines up perfectly.

It’s time for the Packers to pick Aaron Rodgers successor. We’ve been down this road before with this franchise. Don’t pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about. We all remember the Favre retirement debacle and it still gives fans headaches to this day, just thinking about it. But that was then, and this is now. To be honest, I think we have all learned from that experience. This time around, it should be far more formal, more civilized, and much more peaceful for everybody involved. Also, think about this. Like a shining light from the sky, the Packers now get to pick Aaron Rodgers successor, with the deepest quarterback draft class in history at their disposal.

You thought the 1983 NFL draft was loaded with quarterbacks. You thought the 1998 draft was loaded as well. We haven’t seen anything like this, ever. Depending on which draft board you look at, there could are as many as 14 (count them,) quarterbacks worthy of being selected in the first two rounds. Who are these top draft picks? Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, Mason Rudolph, Lamar Jackson, Luke Falk, Baker Mayfield, Jake Browning, Ryan Finley, Jarrett Stidham, Quinton Flowers, J.T. Barrett, Riley Ferguson, and Clayton Thorson. That many QB’s up for grabs is absurd. This could change, depending on who declares himself eligible for the draft, and who doesn’t. It also comes down to which players continue to impress and who the scouts like/don’t like, but right now, this is how the next draft class looks. If the Packers contend with Hundley, okay. But I don’t see that happening. So, this is going to allow them to be in a high enough position to begin the draft that they can make sure they get the guy they want to replace Rodgers. The Packers are also expected to receive four compensation selections for the 2018 draft, and they also could trade Randall Cobb for a pair of draft choices. That would give them 13 selections at the start of the draft, which means if they wanted to go up to get the guy they want, they could do so with ease. They are not getting Sam Darnold from USC. He will go first overall. But every other quarterback is on the table. So which ones could fit?

Josh Rosen/UCLA– He is the second quarterback on most boards. He has great mechanics and a big arm. However, he is not a scrambler by any means. Think Joe Flacco here, with a much better attitude.

Lamar Jackson/Louisville- He may be the most electrifying player in college football, and Jackson has skills that most great quarterbacks dream of. A superb athlete to begin with, Jackson has an arm like few others, with the ability to make throws that nobody else can. However, there are serious questions about his size, and whether or not he is nothing more than the next Michael Vick, which in this era, may not translate to the NFL. He is considered a long-range prospect, which is in the Packers favor, and he could play while he develops.

Baker Mayfield/Oklahoma- This is a tough scrappy competitor who also happens to have some skill. Mayfield can do some of everything. His biggest knock is size and lack of arm strength.

Luke Falk/Washington State- A tall lengthy pocket passer much in the mold of the Manning brothers, Falk has put up big numbers at Washington State. With time, he should translate well to the NFL.

Josh Allen/Wyoming- Allen has everything one could want in a quarterback. Size, big arm, athletic ability. Some have even said he is Aaron Rodgers with three more inches and 10 more pounds. However, if you look at his current play level, he is considered to be a long-range prospect, much like Jackson, but unlike Jackson, sitting or playing could determine the difference between success or failure. (This is the guy I want the Packers to choose.)

Whether the Packers choose one of the quarterbacks listed above, or someone else such as Clayton Thorson, Mason Rudolph, Jake Browning, Riley Ferguson, or somebody else, or even if they decide to wait until the 2019 draft, they need to be careful as they select Rodger’s successor. They need to make sure they don’t go out of their way to go hunting for the next Aaron Rodgers, potentially missing out on a great quarterback in his own right, just because he doesn’t look or play like Aaron Rodgers. When they drafted Aaron Rodgers, they didn’t go hunting for the next Brett Favre. They went hunting for the guy that fit what they wanted for their next quarterback. For as great as Rodgers’s arm is, Rodgers is a mixture of arm strength, precision, and once athletic ability, but it’s not Brett Favre’s arm. Favre’s arm was once in a lifetime special. We will never see an arm that strong again in our lifetimes. What I am getting at is that Aaron Rodgers was a different quarterback than Brett Favre. Doesn’t mean Favre wasn’t special. Just means they are different. Perhaps their next quarterback is a classic, oversized, strong-armed drop back pocket passer, nothing like Aaron Rodgers.

Whoever they decided to get, they need to get him now, or in 2019 at the latest. They have a golden opportunity to follow the same protocol they followed from Favre to Rodgers. Get a guy, sit him down for three years, develop him properly, and then much like Rodgers, give a well seasoned player the keys to the car. When they gave Rodgers the keys to the car in his fourth season, he was nothing like the quarterback that put the Packers hat on the day he was drafted. They completely overhauled his mechanics. He was bigger, he was stronger, he added arm strength, his accuracy was much better, and his football I.Q. was finally up to speed. Because he was able to sit for three years, without worrying about having to play on Sundays, he was able to work on these things, which is why he is the great quarterback he is today.

The Packers need to get their next quarterback now, and they have a lot talent with various styles of play to choose from. Whoever they get, they need to make sure he’s the right one.”