The No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers (-6) and Northwestern Wildcats are ready to square off on the grass at Ryan Field. FOX has the TV rights and this key Big 10 game is scheduled to get underway at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Wisconsin Badgers at Northwestern Wildcats Betting Preview
In this Saturday Big Ten game, Wisconsin is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 6 points. The Badgers are also receiving -240 moneyline odds while the Wildcats are +190. If one side finds paydirt early on it’ll result in a worthy in-game betting scenario. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 50.5 points.
Odds have moved a bit from where they initially opened. The line opened at 6.5 and the game’s total was placed originally at 50.
The Badgers have gained 1.0 unit so far and are 2-5 against the spread (ATS). The team’s recorded an Over-Under mark of 5-2. The Wildcats have gained 3.6 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 3-4 ATS and have an O/U record of 4-3.
The Badgers are 5-2 straight up (SU), including 3-1 SU against conference opponents. The Wildcats are 4-3 SU overall and 4-1 SU in conference play.
These two programs faced off last year with the final result being a 33-24 win for Wisconsin.
The Badgers hope to make it two in a row 49-20 victory over Illinois last week where Alex Hornibrook completed 13-of-22 passes for only 188 yards, three scores and two interceptions. Jonathan Taylor (159 rushing yards on 27 attempts) and Taiwan Deal (111 yards on 12 carries, two TDs) provided the running attack while Danny Davis III (four receptions, 48 yards) and Jake Ferguson (three catches, 62 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Northwestern enters this one having just earned an 18-15 win over Rutgers. Clayton Thorson completed 17-of-34 passes for 150 yards. Isaiah Bowser (108 rushing yards on 24 attempts, two TDs) handled the running attack while Flynn Nagel (eight receptions, 71 yards) and Chad Hanaoka (two catches, 15 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Wisconsin has run the ball on 66.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Northwestern has an overall rush percentage of 41.8 percent. The Badgers have run for 282 yards/game (including 280 per game versus Big Ten opponents) and have 19 scores on the ground this year. The Wildcats are putting up 78 rush yards per game (72 in conference) and have 12 total rushing TDs.
The Badgers offense has logged 179 yards per contest through the air overall (164 per game versus conference opposition) and has 12 passing scores so far. The Wildcats have produced 296 pass yards per game (277.4 against Big 10 foes) and have nine total pass TDs.
Defensively, Wisconsin should have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 169 yards and throw for 187 yards per game. The Northwestern D has allowed 229.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 143.3 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Badgers have given up an ANY/A of 5.39 to opposing QBs, while the Wildcats are yielding an ANY/A of 5.69.
Offensively, Hornibrook has amassed 1,151 passing yards this year. He’s completed 63 percent of his 136 attempts with 10 passing scores and four interceptions. Hornibrook’s got a 7.68 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 3.89 over the last two outings.
The Badgers have tried to maintain the clock by pounding the defense with their running backs. The tandem of Jonathan Taylor (1,008 rush yards, eight rush TDs) and Taiwan Deal (352 rush yards, five rush TDs) have delivered in the Wisconsin offensive scheme.
Clayton Thorson has completed 135-of-224 passes for 1,450 yards, six TDs and five INTs for Northwestern. His ANY/A stands at 5.19 for the season and 5.28 across his past two games.
The Wildcats will also try to control the game’s pace by turning to their backfield. In addition to Flynn Nagel (473 receiving yards), Isaiah Bowser (110 rush yards, two rush TDs) and Bennett Skowronek (264 receiving yards and one TD) have seen a lot of action recently.
RELATED: Week 9 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Prediction: Wisconsin Badgers vs. Northwestern Wildcats
SU Winner – Wisconsin, ATS Winner – Wisconsin, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Badgers offense has registered two pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Wildcats have accounted for four such plays.
The Wisconsin defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Northwestern has given up five such plays.
The Wisconsin offense has created 16 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Northwestern has created four such runs.
The Badgers defense has allowed nine rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Wildcats have given up 11 such runs.
Each team defense has recorded 11 sacks this year.
Wisconsin has rushed for 6.9 yards per attempt over its last three outings and 6.5 over its last two.
Northwestern has averaged 1.9 yards per carry over its last three games and 2.3 over its past two.
In its last three matches, Northwestern is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Wisconsin’s previous game was 53. The over cashed in the team’s 49-20 triumph over Illinois.
In its last three games, Wisconsin is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
The O/U for Northwestern’s previous game going into it was 49.5. The under cashed in the 18-15 win over Rutgers.
Wisconsin has won four of its last five games SU, with a 25-point defeat to Michigan on October 13th representing the only loss over that span.
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