NCAAF Betting – QS
Thundering Herd at Badgers
Sept 5th, 2008
Two teams who blew out their opposition in the season opener will meet up this Saturday in Madison when the Wisconsin Badgers (1-0 SU, 0-1 ATS) play host to the Thundering Herd of Marshall (1-0 SU, 0-0 ATS) in NCAA action that is set to kick off at Noon ET at Camp Randall Stadium (artificial turf).
BetUS NCAA Football Betting Odds: WISCONSIN -20.5, Total 51.5
Here are some of the NCAA football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* MAR has won four of its last six games SU
* MAR has lost ten of its last 14 games SU
* MAR has covered four of its last 23 road games
* MAR has lost its last eight road games SU
* MAR has played five of its last six road games UNDER the total
* WISC has covered one of its last five games
* WISC has won 19 of its last 23 games SU
* WISC has played four of its last five games OVER the total
* WISC has won its last 15 home games SU
Wisconsin chalked up a 38-17 win over Akron and it could have been worse. As it is, Akron scored a backdoor touchdown at the end. But with 404 rushing yards, the Badgers are giving indications that they can play plenty of “bully ball” with their big offensive line and the crew of running backs headed up by P.J. Hill (210 yards last week). This unit has a lot of depth.
As for Marshall, Cann they or Cann’t they? That’s the question that I guess has to be asked in the wake of redshirt freshman Mark Cann’s debut as the starting quarterback, where he threw a pair of touchdown passes but completed only 11 of 22 against Illinois State. Cody Slate, the tight end and most dependable receiver, may be out of this game. And whether Darius Marshall, who ripped through the ISU defense for over 100 yards, can duplicate that effort against a Big 10 opponent is a question that calls for wide-open speculation.
This may be a Thundering Herd, but it does not necessarily consist of road warriors. Marshall has covered just four of its last 23 road games, and last year’s slate featured losses by 28 to Miami, 26 to Cincinnati, and 34 to Central Florida. Frosh quarterbacks don’t often go up to Madison to pull upsets. And with Wisconsin being able to go after its opponents with people like John Clay and Zach Brown in the second half, the “back door” seems less likely.
As a bonus, Wisconsin looks like it also might be getting back All-American tight end Travis Beckum, who sat out the opener. Beckum, who was sidelined with a hamstring problem, has been participating in drills.
Look for Wisconsin to wear Marshall down in the second half and pull away, as the Herd is not in a position to play catch-up. We’ll lay the points with the Badgers, the 20.5-point favorite in the BetUS NCAAF betting odds.
