This game looks like it will be a defensive battle as the Wisconsin Badgers (5-2) play the Illinois Fighting Illini (4-2). The Big 10’s third-leading receiver, Geronimo Allison (601 yards, 3 TDs), and the second-leading passer, Joel Stave (1,708 yards, 8 TDs) will be key to the outcome of this contest. It starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct 24 and will air on BTN and BTN2.
Illinois was defeated by Iowa 29-20 in their last game. Geronimo Allison had a big game in the loss, totaling eight receptions for 148 yards and one TD. Wes Lunt also had a big day, contributing 317 yards and a TD through the air. Wisconsin is hoping for another victory like last week’s performance, when it beat Purdue 24-7. Alex Erickson had a good game for the Badgers, totaling nine receptions for 86 yards. Joel Stave had a big game as well, totaling 322 yards through the air.
Oddsmakers have deemed the Illinois and Wisconsin game as an even matchup and the Over/Under (O/U) is presently unavailable.
The Fighting Illini enter the game with a record of 4-2 Straight Up (SU) and Against The Spread (ATS) this season. The Fighting Illini are known for their passing game. Their 43 passing attempts per game are the fifth-most in the nation. As for the Illinois defense, there are important areas to keep an eye on. The Badgers will be matching up against a stout Illinois pass defense, which only allowed 179.0 passing yards over their last five matchups.
On the other side, the Badgers are unsuccessful ATS with a 2-5 record this season even though they have a 5-2 SU record. The Badgers defense has trended upward in the past five games. They lowered their points allowed per game to 10.9 by giving up an average of eight points during that five-game span. The Wisconsin defense has allowed just 103.7 rush yards per game this season, 13th in the nation. Wisconsin tends to control the time of possession during games, averaging a time of 33:13 for 17th in the country.
Predictions: SU Winner – Wisconsin, ATS Winner – Wisconsin
Notes
Illinois is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Illinois’s last 5 games.
Illinois is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Illinois’s last 7 games at home.
Illinois is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Wisconsin.
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Illinois’s last 12 games when playing Wisconsin.
Illinois is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Wisconsin.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Illinois’s last 6 games when playing at home against Wisconsin.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Wisconsin’s last 6 games when playing on the road against Illinois.
Wisconsin is 4-0 SU when leading at the start of the 4th quarter this season. Illinois is 3-0 SU when leading at the end of the third quarter.
Since the beginning of last season, Wisconsin is 9-3 SU against Big 10 opponents, while Illinois is 4-6 SU against in-conference foes.
The Illinois rushing attack is ranked only 101st in the nation, while the Wisconsin run defense is ranked 13th. The Badgers rushing game is ranked just 91st, compared to the 53rd-ranked run defense of the Fighting Illini.
