Northwestern vs Wisconsin NCAA Football Handicapping
The 19th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats are coming off a hard-fought loss to Ohio State, whom they had a shot at upsetting in the fourth quarter, and they will get thrown right back into the Big Ten fire with a trip to Camp Randall for a date with the Wisconsin Badgers.
19 Northwestern Wildcats (4-1) at Wisconsin Badgers (3-2)
Date: Saturday, October 12, 2013
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Venue: Camp Randall Stadium
City: Madison, Wisconsin
O/U Odds: 57.5
Spread: Wisconsin -10.5
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
ATS Matchup Stats | Betting Insight!
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s COLLEGE FOOTBALL Picks!
Northwestern gave Ohio State a real run for its money in a see-saw contest that was far closer than the final score indicates after a meaningless touchdown at the final whistle.
The Northwestern offense was able to move the ball effectively and has some positives to draw off of from that game.
*CLICK HERE* GRAB OUR BEST Expert College FOOTBALL Picks for 2013 GAMBLING season!
Quarterback Trevor Siemian threw for 245 yards and two scores in the game. Senior wide receiver Rashad Lawrence was his top target, bringing in eight balls for 149 yards. Dual-threat quarterback Kain Colter did it all in the game, rushing for a score, and catching one as well. Another positive to draw off of was the return of running back Venric Mark from a three-game absence. He rushed for 60 yards on 17 carries. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Northwestern defense will look to give the team a boost in this one. Wisconsin has committed only five turnovers on the season, but Northwestern has forced a Big Ten best 14. The unit will need to do a better job stopping the run though, after allowing Carlos Hyde to rush for a career-high 168 yards and three touchdowns against them a week ago.
Wisconsin has a couple edges in this game, as they’re coming off a bye and haven’t lost to Northwestern at home in 13 years. The Wildcats have made two trips to Camp Randall in head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s tenure with the team, losing each time by a combined margin of 79 points.
Wisconsin’s last game was also against Ohio State, a game which they lost, 31-24. Wide receiver Jared Abbrederis caught 10 passes for 207 yards and a score in the game.
The Wisconsin offense will get a boost in this game with the return of running back Melvin Gordon, who suffered a knee injury against Ohio State, but recovered over the bye week and will play. Gordon is averaging 139.6 rushing yards per game, tops in the Big Ten.
The Wisconsin defense allowed Braxton Miller to look good despite a two-game absence. He threw for 198 yards and ran for 83 more in the win.
The home team is 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings between these teams, but it just feels like Wisconsin is giving away too many points in this matchup, and it’s hard to fade Northwestern given their record against the number in recent years.
The Wildcats are 14-4 ATS in their last 18 games.
The play: Northwestern +10.5
