Fighting Illini vs Badgers NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
The Big Ten as a whole has taken a real beating in the media this year, and it has deserved it. The league has a ton of underachieving teams, and Illinois and Wisconsin both fit into that category.
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Wisconsin Badgers
Camp Randall Stadium, Madison Wisconsin
Saturday October 6, 9:00 PM EST
College Football Betting Odds from Bovada
Moneyline: Off
College Football Spread: Wisconsin -14 (-110) vs. Illinois +14 (-110)
Over/Under: 47
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Wisconsin blew a big lead last week at Nebraska, and Illinois was waxed on their home field by Penn State.
Which team will pick up their first conference win of the season Saturday?
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Illinois
Ron Zook and the Fighting Illini got off to a 6-0 start last year before falling apart. Tim Beckman had a lot of success at Toledo, but it’s been a slow start for him in Champaign.
Nathan Scheelhaase looked like a budding star when he started his time at Illinois, but he has struggled with injuries and inconsistency this year. Scheelhaase has thrown two touchdowns and four interceptions this year.
Reilley O’Toole has shared time at the quarterback spot, and he has been better so far this season. Overall, the Illinois offense is averaging just 22.2 points per game.
The Fighting Illini defense was one of the best in the nation last year. So far this season, they have been a big disappointment. A beleaguered Penn State program put up 35 points on this defense only a week after Louisiana Tech scorched this unit for 52 points. The front seven is the strength of the defense, but the secondary has been an issue all year. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The front seven will get a big test in this one.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin certainly played better last weekend than they have been, but they couldn’t finish the deal against Nebraska. The Badgers allowed Nebraska to score the final 20 points of the game, and Wisconsin lost the key Big Ten opener. Wisconsin’s offense has been surprisingly bad this season. There is a big question mark at quarterback.
Danny O’Brien struggled and Joel Stave took over, but neither of them have had much success.
The team is being very quiet about who the starter will be this weekend. The bigger surprise has been the Badgers inability to run the football. This is a team that prides itself on pounding the football down the opposition’s throat, and they haven’t been able to do that.
The Badgers defense has been pretty good this year.
Wisconsin has a star linebacker in Chris Borland. Borland makes some terrific plays, and he is the emotional leader of this unit. The front seven has been solid against the run this year, but opponents have been able to pick on the secondary at times.
Wisconsin’s front four needs to get more pressure on the opposing quarterback to help out the secondary moving forward.
I really think the Badgers get a win here, but two touchdowns is an awful lot to lay against a team with as much talent as Illinois. Look for the defenses to step up in a relatively close game.
Free College Football Pick: Under 47
