In a battle featuring two schools that like to mix in a lot of running plays, Head Coach Paul Chryst and the Wisconsin Badgers (+8) are gearing up to face off against their Big 10 rival No. 21 Penn State Nittany Lions (-8) at Beaver Stadium. ABC will broadcast the action and kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET.
Wisconsin Badgers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Preview
In this Saturday Big Ten matchup, Penn State has been projected as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 8 points. The Badgers are also receiving +260 moneyline odds while the Nittany Lions are -340. Multiple good live betting possibilities might exist during this game, and Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 53 points.
The game’s O/U has swung higher after opening at 51.5. The original spread (-8) has yet to change.
The Badgers are 2-7 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 1.0 unit so far. The team has posted an Over-Under record of 5-4. The Nittany Lions have lost 5.0 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 5-4 ATS and six of their games have gone over the total.
The Badgers have gone 6-3 straight up (SU), including 4-2 SU against Big 10 opponents. The Nittany Lions are 6-3 SU overall and 3-3 SU in conference play.
The Badgers are looking to keep things going following a solid 31-17 victory over Rutgers last week. the Badgers completed 12-of-23 passes for 156 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Alex Hornibrook went seven-for-16 for 92 yards and two interceptions while Jack Coan completed five-of-seven for 64 yards and one touchdown. Jonathan Taylor (208 rushing yards on 27 attempts, three TDs) and Taiwan Deal (77 yards on nine carries) led the running attack in the win while Danny Davis III (six receptions, 60 yards, one TD) and Taylor (three catches, 33 yards) handled the receiving duties.
On November 3, Michigan knocked off this Penn State team by a score of 42-7. The Nittany Lions defensive unit allowed the Wolverines to kill the clock by rushing for 259 yards on 52 attempts, including three rush TDs. Karan Higdon put up a good showing in the win for Michigan, recording 132 rushing yards and a score on 20 attempts. For Penn State, Trace McSorley completed five-of-13 passes for 83 yards and one interception. McSorley (-6 yards on 12 rush attempts) and Tommy Stevens (52 yards on 10 carries, one TD) spearheaded the ground game in the defeat as Pat Freiermuth (three receptions, 51 yards) and Jahan Dotson (two catches, 29 yards) led the Penn State pass-catchers.
Wisconsin has run the ball on 64.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Penn State has a rush percentage of 57.6 percent. The Badgers have produced 273 rush yards/game (including 267 per game against Big Ten opponents) and have 23 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Nittany Lions are putting up 208 rushing yards per game (193 in conference) and have 28 total rush TDs.
The Badgers offensive scheme has averaged 174 yards in the air overall (162 per game against conference opposition) and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Nittany Lions have put up 221 pass yards per contest (206.2 in the Big 10) and have 15 total pass scores.
Defensively, Wisconsin seems to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has let opponents run for an average of 159 yards and pass for 193 yards per game. The Penn State defense has allowed 216.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 172.2 yards per game to opposing runners. The Nittany Lions are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.40 to opposing QBs, while the Badgers have given up a 5.20 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Coan has amassed 64 yards this year, and has completed 71 percent of his 7 attempts with one scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. He has a 12.00 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 6.59 over the last two games.
The Badgers have tried to control tempo by putting the ball into the hands of their running backs. Along with Danny Davis III (210 yards, two TDs), Jonathan Taylor (1,317 rush yards, 11 rush TDs, 52 receiving yards) and Garrett Groshek (234 rush yards, one receiving TD) have been significant focal points in the offensive game scripts for Wisconsin.
For the home team, Trace McSorley has completed 116-of-219 passes for 1,544 yards, 11 TDs and four INTs. McSorley’s ANY/A sits at 6.34 for the season and 3.04 across his last two outings.
The Nittany Lions should also look to control the clock by turning to their backfield. In addition to KJ Hamler (421 receiving yards, five receiving TDs), Miles Sanders (786 rush yards, eight rush TDs) and Tommy Stevens (40 rush yards, one rush TD) have gotten a lot of touches lately.
These two conference foes did not get a chance to face each other last year.
RELATED: Week 11 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free NCAA Betting Tip: Wisconsin Badgers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Penn State defense has registered 29 sacks on the year while Wisconsin has just 12.
Penn State has lost eight fumbles this season while the Wisconsin offense has lost six.
The Badgers offense has recorded two pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Nittany Lions have put up seven such plays.
The Wisconsin defense has allowed six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Penn State has given up three such plays.
The Wisconsin offense has created 21 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Penn State has created 16 such runs.
The Badgers defense has allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Nittany Lions have given up 12 such runs.
The Over/Under for Penn State’s last game was set at 49. The O/U pushed in the 42-7 loss to Michigan.
In its last three games, Penn State is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Over its last three matches, Wisconsin is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Wisconsin’s previous game was 52.5. The under cashed in the team’s 31-17 win over Rutgers.
Wisconsin has averaged 6.4 yards per carry over its last three games and 6.2 over its last two.
Penn State has averaged 3.6 yards per carry over its last three contests and 2.9 over its last two.
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