WISCONSIN vs WAKE FOREST
When: 12/30/2020 12:00 PM
Where:

TV: 12:00 PM
LINE: 7
PREDICTION: WAKE FOREST , WISCONSIN

Oddsmakers currently have the WAKE FOREST listed as 7 point favorites versus the WISCONSIN, while the game’s total is sitting at 52.5.

There could be plenty of energy and fresh bodies when Wake Forest and Wisconsin meet in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Dec. 30 in Charlotte, N.C.

Both schools figure to have unfinished business to tend to in what probably feels like an incomplete season for each squad. This is the first-ever meeting between the programs.

Wisconsin (3-3), which looked to be a contender in the Big Ten Conference when the season began, is in a bowl for the 19th consecutive season — the third-longest active streak in the country.

“We have said throughout this season that all we want is a chance to play,” Badgers coach Paul Chryst said. “With all that has gone on and especially after (defeating Minnesota), our guys are excited for one more opportunity.”

Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said his team is enthused about the chance to finish the season with a victory after back-to-back losses — albeit almost a month apart — to close the regular season.

“We didn’t do all this work to play eight games. We don’t want our last game to be Louisville,” he said, referring to a 45-21 loss to the Cardinals on Dec. 12.

Wake Forest (4-4) is playing in a school-record fifth consecutive bowl. The Demon Deacons won the first three of those — including in 2017 against Texas A&M in Charlotte (then called the Belk Bowl) — before losing last season to Michigan State in the Pinstripe Bowl.

“When we played Texas A&M, that was a big deal,” Clawson said. “To get a team like Wisconsin that we have great respect for and we know is a traditional power, that’s a big deal to our players.”

The Badgers were much busier than Wake Forest recently, playing five games in the last six weeks. They lost three in a row before pulling out a 20-17 overtime win against Minnesota on Dec. 19.

Senior Garrett Groshek rushed for 161 yards and his first touchdown of the season against the Golden Gophers.

“It shows you that he cares about this team,” Chryst said, hoping that type of spirit carries over to the bowl game.

Quarterback Graham Mertz took a hit and didn’t finish the Minnesota game. Chryst speculated that he would be OK, though Chase Wolf took snaps during the crucial final minutes. Mertz has thrown for eight touchdowns.

Wake Forest has played only once since Nov. 14 and played the fewest games of any Atlantic Coast Conference team this season. This will be the Demon Deacons’ seventh game in their home state this year.

Among games canceled for Wake Forest were matchups with Notre Dame, Miami, Duke, and Florida State. The Seminoles weren’t on the original schedule but added for Dec. 19 amid the ACC’s late-season scheduling revisions, and then called off because of FSU’s coronavirus protocols.

Wisconsin leads the nation in time of possession, playing at a more deliberate pace than Wake Forest prefers.

“They have a style of football in a way that works for them,” Clawson said. “We have a style of football that has worked for us.”

Wake Forest defensive end Carlos Basham has opted not to play in the bowl game. He had 23 consecutive games with a tackle for loss until the Louisville game, a mark that had been the longest active string in the country.

Team scoring leader Kenneth Walker III, a sophomore running back with 13 touchdowns in seven games, also has chosen not to compete any more this year. He sat out the Louisville game as well.

This is the first year of this bowl’s tie-in with the Big Ten Conference. The Badgers are 4-1 in bowls against current ACC members.

Initially, a crowd limited to fewer than 6,000 fans were anticipated per state guidelines amid the pandemic. On Dec. 22, bowl officials announced that only family and friends of team members and bowl sponsors will be permitted to attend.

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BYU vs WISCONSIN
When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 15, 2018
Where: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

TV: 3:30 PM
LINE: -22.5
PREDICTION: WISCONSIN , BYU

Oddsmakers currently have the WISCONSIN listed as -22.5 point favorites versus the BYU, while the game’s total is sitting at 45.5.

Sixth-ranked Wisconsin puts its lengthy non-conference home winning streak on the line when it faces BYU on Saturday. The Badgers thumped New Mexico 45-14 last weekend to extend that streak at Camp Randall to 42 in a row, and hope to improve to 3-0 for the third straight season by besting the Cougars for the third consecutive time following victories in 2013 (27-17) and 2017 (40-6).

“I think there’s some good things that we can continue to find and that we’ll continue to build on,” Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst told reporters. “There’s certainly things that we can look at and get better at in all phases.” The Badgers have won 20 consecutive regular-season games dating back to 2016, with 16 victories coming by double digits during that span, and hope to wrap up the non-conference portion of their schedule with another comfortable victory. BYU hopes to bounce back from its first loss of the season after dropping a 21-18 decision to California in Week 2. The Cougars have lost 11 of their last 15 games dating back to last season but look to knock off a Big Ten opponent on the road for the third time in the last four seasons, following wins against Nebraska (33-28) in 2015 and Michigan State (31-14) in 2016.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Wisconsin – 21.5.

ABOUT BYU (1-1): Tanner Mangum was limited to 196 yards on 22-of-41 passing with one touchdown and two interceptions in the loss to California. Running back Squally Canada was held to 49 yards on 16 carries against the Golden Bears after rushing for 98 yards and three touchdowns in the win against Arizona in the season opener. “Not good enough from anybody and it just wasn’t one guy,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake told reporters. “Everyone is being evaluated on this team at every position as our job as coaches is to make sure we have the right guys at the right positions to make plays and he’s no different.”

ABOUT WISCONSIN (2-0): Jonathan Taylor was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after racking up a career-high 253 rushing yards on 33 carries to go along with three touchdowns in the win over New Mexico. Alex Hornibrook completed 8-of-11 passes for 148 yards and a touchdowns against the Lobos to improve to 22-3 as a starting quarterback while defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk made two tackles in his first game since undergoing knee surgery in the summer. Danny Davis is eligible to return after serving a two-game ban for his role in an alleged sexual assault involving his roommate and fellow wide receiver Quintez Cephus, who is suspended indefinitely.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wisconsin is 87-10 at home since the start of the 2004 season.

2. Taylor has rushed for over 100 yards in 12 of his 16 career games.

3. BYU hasn’t defeated a ranked opponent since 2015.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 35, BYU 17

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NEW MEXICO vs WISCONSIN
When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 8, 2018
Where: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

TV: 12:00 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: WISCONSIN , NEW MEXICO

Oddsmakers currently have the WISCONSIN listed as point favorites versus the NEW MEXICO, while the game’s total is sitting at .

Sixth-ranked Wisconsin looks to continue its mastery of non-conference opponents when it hosts New Mexico on Saturday in the first-ever meeting between the teams. The Badgers routed Western Kentucky 34-3 to notch their 23rd consecutive season-opening home win and hope to keep rolling by extending their non-conference winning streak at Camp Randall to 41 games, which would be the fifth-longest streak in NCAA history.

“It was good to get the first game under our belt and I thought we did some good things but certainly a number of areas we gotta get better at,” Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst told reporters. “We’re looking forward to a good week of preparation.” Heisman Trophy candidate Jonathan Taylor rushed for 145 yards on 18 carries against the Hilltoppers to go over the 100-yard mark for the 11th time in 15 career games, and the sophomore looks to feast on a New Mexico defense which was gashed for 566 yards in its season-opening win against Incarnate Word. Wisconsin has held seven of its last 14 non-conference opponents at home without an offensive touchdown and hopes to put the defensive clamps on the Lobos, who have dropped six of their last seven road games. New Mexico washed away the bitter taste of losing seven straight games to end the 2017 campaign by crushing the Cardinals 62-30 but face their sternest test of the season against a Wisconsin team that is 86-10 at home since the start of 2004.

TV: Noon ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Wisconsin -35

ABOUT NEW MEXICO (1-0): Tevaka Tuioti threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns in the win against Incarnate Word to become the first Lobos quarterback to finish with over 300 yards passing since B.R. Holbrook on Sept. 11, 2010. Tyrone Owens added 58 yards and a pair of TDs on the ground to become the 17th player in program history to reach 2,000 yards while Tuioti added 54 rushing yards and a touchdown, but the yards will be hard to come by against a stout Wisconsin defense. “It will be a good test for us,” Tuioti admitted to reporters. “I’m stoked about it though, it’s not every year that you get to play a big team who also happens to be ranked No. 6 in the nation.”

ABOUT WISCONSIN (1-0): Alex Hornibrook completed 17-of-29 passes for 257 yards – one short of his career high – and pair of TDs while Taylor had touchdown runs of 30 and 47 yards against Western Kentucky. A.J. Taylor stepped up in the absence of top receivers Quintez Cephus and Danny Davis, who were both serving suspensions, grabbing five passes for a team-high 85 yards while Garrett Groshek hauled in the first touchdown pass of his career. Defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk is inching closer to a return after he was medically cleared to play after undergoing knee surgery in the summer while tight end Zander Neuville could make his season debut after suffering a leg injury in fall practice.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Badgers are 46-10 overall since the start of 2013.

2. Taylor ranks second all-time at Wisconsin with a 6.69 yards per carry average.

3. Hornibrook is 11-1 at home as a starter.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 41, New Mexico 10

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W KENTUCKY vs WISCONSIN
When: 9:00 PM ET, Friday, August 31, 2018
Where: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

TV: 9:00 PM
LINE: -34
PREDICTION: WISCONSIN , W KENTUCKY

Oddsmakers currently have the WISCONSIN listed as -34 point favorites versus the W KENTUCKY, while the game’s total is sitting at 51.

Seventh-ranked Wisconsin looks to live up to its lofty ranking when it kicks off the new season at home against Western Kentucky on Friday. The Badgers went unbeaten in the regular season en route to their third Big Ten West Division title in the last four years before falling to Ohio State in the conference championship game, and the Badgers hope to build on their record-breaking 13-win season by earning a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.

Wisconsin returns several key players on offense, including Heisman Trophy candidate Jonathan Taylor, who set an NCAA freshman rushing record with 1,977 yards. Quarterback Alex Hornibrook is back after throwing 25 touchdowns passes, but the lefthander will be without two major weapons. Junior Quintez Cephus, who was the team’s top returning receiver, was suspended indefinitely after he was charged with two counts of sexual assault while Danny Davis will sit out the first two games for his role in the alleged incidents. Wisconsin has won 22 consecutive home openers and can extend its non-conference winning streak at Camp Randall to 40 games with another victory. Western Kentucky is coming off its first losing season since 2010 and hopes to earn the biggest win of Mike Sanford Jr.’s two-season tenure by knocking off a Big Ten opponent for the first time in school history after losing its previous seven meetings.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Wisconsin -36

ABOUT WESTERN KENTUCKY (2017: 6-7): Senior quarterback Drew Eckels will replace Mike White, who threw for 4,177 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. Eckels hopes to prove the critics wrong after the Hilltoppers were picked to finish fifth in Conference USA’s East Division. Senior D’Andre Ferby is the favorite to start at running back after rushing for a team-high 373 yards in 2017, but there are four other players vying for playing time in a crowded backfield. “I think that all five guys are going to play against Wisconsin,” Sanford told reporters. “We’ve had opportunities in scrimmages to see who ran the best and that was going to decide the starter but all five of them have done really good things.”

ABOUT WISCONSIN (2017: 13-1): Taylor racked up ten 100-yard games to go along with 13 touchdowns in his record-breaking freshman campaign and is poised for another big year with all five starters returning on the offensive line, including All-Americans Beau Benzschawel, Michael Deiter and David Edwards. A.J. Taylor, who caught 31 passes for 475 yards and five touchdowns last season, and Kendric Pryor will be counted on to fill the void left by Cephus and Davis. “It’s something we can’t control and everybody’s accepted it and we’re moving forward trying to get better every day,” linebacker and team captain T.J. Edwards told reporters. “Those two guys have done a lot in the past but we have a game on Friday and that’s our main focus.”

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wisconsin has won 10 or more games in four straight seasons.

2. Hornibrook is 20-3 as a starter.

3. The Badgers are 85-10 at home since the start of the 2004 season.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 41, Western Kentucky 13

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Wisconsin Badgers vs Michigan State Spartans
When: 4:00 PM  ET, Sunday, February 26, 2017
Where: Jack Breslin Student Events Center, East Lansing, Michigan

TV: 4 p.m. ET, CBS
LINE: 1.5
PREDICTION: Wisconsin 72, Michigan State 69

Oddsmakers currently have the Michigan State Spartans listed as 1.5 point favorites versus the Wisconsin Badgers, while the game’s total is sitting at 130.

Michigan State looks to continue its push toward an NCAA Tournament bid when it hosts reeling No. 15 Wisconsin in a key Big Ten Conference contest on Sunday. Losers of three of their last four, the Badgers enter the matchup just one-half game behind Purdue for first place in the conference standings, while the Spartans are coming off a win on Thursday that has them within one-half game of a three-way tie for fourth in the league.

Ethan Happ is Mr. Everything for the Badgers, leading the team in scoring (15.6 points), rebounding (8.3), assists (2.9), blocks (1.5) and steals (2.6) during conference play to make him the only player in the nation to top his team in all five categories in league action. Happ (14.4 points, 8.9 rebounds on the season) and Nigel Hayes (13.4, six) really could dominate in the paint, where Michigan State is lacking in size. Coach Tom Izzo’s squad does rely on its freshman forwards, as Miles Bridges (16.3 points, 8.3 rebounds) and Nick Ward (13.1, 5.9) are the team’s top two scorers and rebounders. But the key for the Spartans will be cutting down on turnovers, which means point guards Tum Tum Nairn (3.8 assists) and Cassius Winston (5.4) must handle the ball cleanly against Wisconsin’s hard-nosed defense.

ABOUT WISCONSIN (22-6, 11-4 Big Ten): Although the Badgers weren’t happy with the result of their last contest – a loss to Ohio State – the silver lining was the breaking out of a slump by Bronson Koenig. The senior guard found his shot again, matching his career high with 27 points, while passing Ben Brust as the school’s all-time leader in 3-pointers. Koenig had gone 8-of-36 from beyond the arc over his previous six games – having sat out a loss to Michigan on Feb. 16 with a calf injury – but was 5-of-9 against the Buckeyes, raising the hopes of those around the program that he’s ready to be the deadly shooter he was before his slump just in time for March.

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (17-11, 9-6): With Eron Harris sidelined for the season with a knee injury, fellow senior Alvin Ellis III has been thrust into the starting lineup for the Spartans just as his collegiate career is coming to an end. Ellis showed his nerves while making just the third start of his tenure with Michigan State against Nebraska, shooting just 1-of-6, although he did finish with seven points, six rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. Ellis has been one of the most consistent shooters for Izzo in Big Ten play, so he’ll need to get used to starting in a hurry, even though his final game at the Breslin Center against Wisconsin could bring even more nerves.

TIP-INS
1. Wisconsin has been outscored in the paint just five times this season, going 1-4 in those contests.
2. Freshman G Joshua Langford had his best game as a Spartan against Nebraska, scoring a career-high 17 points while matching his personal best with five rebounds.
3. Michigan State and Wisconsin both have a rebound margin of plus-1.9 in Big Ten play.

The post Wisconsin Badgers vs. Michigan State Spartans Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Wisconsin Badgers
When: 11/26/2016 3:30 PM

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network.
LINE: Wisconsin -14.5
PREDICTION: Wisconsin 33, Minnesota 17

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network.
LINE: Wisconsin -14.5
PREDICTION: Wisconsin 33, Minnesota 17

MADISON, Wisc. — In the middle of October, Wisconsin’s football season looked headed toward a subpar season with a 1-2 record in the Big Ten Conference after a stellar start.

Sure, the Badgers lost those two conference games to No. 4 Michigan by seven points on the road and to No. 2 Ohio State in overtime in Madison, but projections for another strong season looked bleak with games against Iowa and Nebraska in consecutive weeks looming.

And they had quarterback questions with freshman Alex Hornibrook taking over the starting job at Michigan.

“When we looked at our schedule, we knew there wasn’t a game that we couldn’t win,” Hornibrook said. “We felt we could win every one of them.”

Now the Badgers are knocking on the door of the Big Ten title game.

They’ve won five straight games heading into Saturday’s showdown against Minnesota on Senior Day at Camp Randall Stadium, are ranked No. 5 in the country and at 9-2 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten West, they have to win one more game to ensure a spot in the Big Ten title game on Dec. 3.

Wisconsin can clinch the division crown Friday if Iowa beats Nebraska, and if Minnesota beats Wisconsin on Saturday, the Badgers would still win the division due to a four-way tie with Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The Badgers have beaten Minnesota 12 straight times.

“The end of the season’s feeling closer, with Senior Day coming up,” UW running back Dare Ogunbowale said. “I wouldn’t say that anything is different, as in the postseason or anything like that. We know we have to beat Minnesota for all that stuff to (ring) true, so we’re going to make sure we go out and do that.”

The Badgers are one of three Big Ten teams, including Michigan and Ohio State, ranked in the top five. The Badgers are ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press poll. Take care of business, and the Badgers in playing in the conference title game in Indianapolis and have a shot at a berth in the college playoffs.

“I had the personal and our team had the goal of getting (to the Big Ten title game),” Wisconsin linebacker Vince Biegel said. “We still have one more game before that happens. We cannot overlook a talented Minnesota offense and team. They’re hungry for a win against us. It’s a trophy game. It’s a border battle. A lot of storylines. A lot of things on the line in this game.”

Minnesota (8-3) could position itself for a better-than-expected bowl bid if the Golden Gophers win the border rivalry. Saturday will be the 126th meeting between the two programs, marking the most-played rivalry in the FBS.

Minnesota has won five of its last six games.

“I know it’s always special in this game,” Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst said. “I’ve been lucky to go the Minnesota/Wisconsin game with my dad, just me and him in the stands, and then when he was coaching. I got a chance to be a part of it as a player, and then as a coach here.”

Wisconsin hasn’t thrived on offense, but it has been consistent for the most part.

Hornibrook is a quiet but effective leader and quarterback. He has completed 100 of his 171 passes, but has thrown seven interceptions and eight touchdowns. He enters the Minnesota game looking to lead the Badgers into the Big Ten title game. He must keep his emotions under check during Senior Day, and not try and force the issue and stay away from turnovers.

A big reason he should stay calm is Corey Clement, who has topped the 1,000-yard mark to raise his season total to 1,040 yards, becoming the 17th player in school history to hit the 1,000-yard mark in a season. His running has been key in Wisconsin’s five-game winning streak, and with the division title at state, look for him to have plenty of carries against Minnesota.

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