The Badgers are taking on their first foe in Camp Randall this season: the Western Illinois Leathernecks, an FCS program. It's the home opener that the Badgers need after falling flat against Notre Dame in the second half last week at Lambeau. Wisconsin shows a lot of promise, but there's a ton to work on and improve. This week will go a long way toward the Big Ten opener in a few weeks.
In this article, let's look at the gameday odds, the final prediction, and how to watch for the Badgers in Week Two.
Wisconsin vs. Western Illinois odds, spread and total
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook
Moneyline
- Wisconsin N/A
- Western Illinois N/A
Spread
- Wisconsin -42.5 (-110)
- Western Illinois +42.5 (-110)
Total
- 51.5 (over -104/under -118)
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
The odds have moved by a good chunk. Early this week, they were already ridiculous at 36.4, but now they've moved over 40, all the way to 42.5. This is a big swing and basically Vegas saying there's no way Western Illinois wins this game. It will be even tougher for them to score. It doesn't help that Western Illinois lost to Illinois State last week, 41-10.
There's also been money plucked down on Wisconsin to move the line this way and this fast. So, there are plenty of people willing to still put down some greenbacks behind the Badgers. Yes, it's an FCS opponent, but taking a 42.5 spread is aggressive in a lot of ways.
Wisconsin vs. Western Illinois game prediction
Let's put up two predictions this week: a personal one (from the writer) and a Vegas prediction. The Vegas prediction is just taking the odds and the over/under and picking a realistic football number final score. Knowing that you have to pick the over or the under to get to this number (and that should be noted).
So this is a weird one because Wisconsin is getting 42.5, but the over/under is 51.5. With the way predictions work, this only gives Western Illinois around five points scored. Which isn't realistic, so we can move that up to 6.
Final Vegas math prediticion would be: Wisconsin 46-6
Now for my personal prediction. I think this is probably a bit high, not that Wisconsin couldn't do it, but Fickell will be wanting to see some other players as the score gets higher and higher. By the end, we could see some unique combinations out there both on the defense and the offense.
Final prediction: Wisconsin 38-3
How to watch Wisconsin vs. Western Illinois in Week 2
- Date: Saturday, September 12
- Time: 6:15 p.m. CT
- Venue: Camp Randall Stadium
- How to Watch (TV): Big Ten Network
- Streaming: fubo TV
- Wisconsin record: 0-1
- Notre Dame record: 1-1
It will be a good opportunity for Badger fans to see how the Wisconsin Badgers can work and get the offense in rhythm. Their hardest foe all season is behind them, and now Wisconsin is taking on their easiest foe, which is a bit of whiplash for fans.
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