The Wisconsin Badgers are 1-1 after two weeks of play, and yet neither week has been impressive for a full 60 minutes. Wisconsin fans aren't thrilled with how things are going early in this season, even with a relatively easy victory over Western Illinois on Saturday. Vegas must agree because the early odds are out for Wisconsin vs. Eastern Michigan.
Wisconsin hasn't covered the spread in two weeks now, and that's probably making sure Vegas doesn't give them too many points this week. If you are betting Wisconsin, it's not a sure-fire solution right now, and this week's odds reveal that clearly.
Wisconsin vs. Eastern Michigan odds, spread and total
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook
Moneyline
- Wisconsin -4000
- Eastern Michigan +1400
Spread
- Wisconsin -24.5 (-110)
- Eastern Michigan +24.5 (-110)
Total
- 47.5 (over -110/under -110)
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Wisconsin is off to a rough start for betting this year, going 0-2 versus the spread. However, the spread this week for Wisconsin is going to be much more tempting. The Badgers are only 24.5-point favorites over Eastern Michigan.
While EMU is an FBS school and not an FCS school like Western Illinois, it should still be a game in which the Badgers can get things on cruise control. While the game against the Leathernecks started that way, going up 17-0, it ground to a snail's pace with the Wisconsin offense looking ugly.
Wisconsin needs to find a way to win and cover the spread
Vegas knows all this and is really good at creating lines. With a 36-9 victory over Western Illinois, with a bunch of things to clean up. That difference is only 27 points. Now that the competition has gone up with Eastern Michigan, the Badgers are only given 24.5. Feels fair, but it's less than desirable for what Wisconsin fans want to see.
This needs to be the week that Wisconsin finds a way to not only win convincingly but also cover the spread. Especially considering that the Eagles just lost to Michigan State 35-7 on Saturday. The Spartans look awful this season and were able to steamroll Eastern Michigan. What can the Badgers do to them?
When you look at the other games for EMU, they were able to beat Sacramento State in week one, 28-17, and then suffered a loss to San Jose State, 27-21, in the following week. Now they come to Camp Randall looking for a better showing against a Big Ten team.
ESPN agrees with Vegas about Wisconsin's probability. The ESPN prediction tool has the Badgers favored to win with a 94.3% probability. That's about as high as you can get it (though last week it was 99% against Western Illinois).
For most Wisconsin fans, it won't be the win that matters, but how the Badgers are able to accomplish it. Can they actually put a weaker opponent to bed and then keep their foot down? Will the Badgers run a well-executed offense? How will Colton Joseph bounce back? This really has to be the prep week for Penn State, a team looming first on the Big Ten schedule.
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