Free NCAA Football Prediction: Fighting Illini vs. Badgers Odds
Looking for Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Wisconsin Badgers free picks? College football betting sees the Fighting Illini taking on the Badgers on Saturday, October 1st at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football game Week 3 predictions like this Illinois-Wisconsin free pick.
College Football Handicapping Analysis: Week 5
(3-1) Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Wisconsin Badgers (2-2)
Date: Saturday, October 1st, 2022
Time: 12:00 pm EST
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Madison, WI
NCAA Football ATS Spread Odds: IU +7 | WIS -7 (Bet Now!)
NCAA Football Moneyline Odds: Fighting Illini +225 | Badgers -275
NCAA Betting Total Odds: O/U 43.5
The Illinois Fighting Illini will travel to Madison and take on the Wisconsin Badgers from Camp Randall Stadium this Saturday on the Big Ten Network. Wisconsin will open as the seven-point favorites, with the total opening at 44.
HISTORY: There’s no love lost between these two bordering states, with their rivalry dating back to 1899. Wisconsin leads the all-time series 44-38-7, after a recent dominant stretch of winning eleven of the last twelve meetings.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois took a 3-1 record into their bye week after enjoying a successful non-conference slate. They defeated Wyoming in Week 0, and despite dropping their first Big Ten game of the season to Indiana the following weekend, they bounced back with a home victory over Virginia.
Last time out, Illinois shut out Chattanooga, 31-0, improving to 3-1 against the spread this season.
Tommy DeVito fell out of favor at Syracuse, but stayed true to his orange ties and has settled in nicely as Illinois starting quarterback. The fifth-year senior was flawless in the win over Chattanooga, throwing for 329 yards and three touchdowns, and he looks set to take on the fall weather that comes with Big Ten play, as it won’t be warm as the Carrier Dome, but a bit more scenic.
DeVito has passed for 951 yards with nine touchdowns to two interceptions through his first four games of the season.
Chase Brown has been the most reliable member of the program since the pandemic. After recording 1,005 yards in 2021, the junior back has surpassed the 100-yard mark in each of Illinois’ first four games. Brown has totaled rushed for a Big Ten-lead 604 yards and three touchdowns.
Isaiah Williams had a solid freshman season, and he’s found chemistry with DeVito early. Williams had a big game in the Big Ten opener versus Indiana, and he leads the team in catches (28) and receiving yards (260). Fellow sophomore Pat Bryant had a big game against the Mocs, pacing the team with six catches and 112 yards.
Illinois has stood out defensively thus far, holding their non-conference opponents to just nine points in three games. It remains to be seen if that can carry over to Big Ten play, but Bielema has this team fighting in the trenches early.
Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin has looked sharp against subpar competition thus far, shutting Illinois State out in their opener and dominating New Mexico State last week. The Badgers struggled against their lone Power 5 opponent, Washington State, and they had a tall task last Saturday to open Big Ten play.
Last weekend, Wisconsin lost to Ohio State in Columbus, 52-21, failing to make use of the 17-point underdog spread.
The Badgers have passed the ball rather well for their standards early. Junior quarterback Graham Mertz looks a lot more confident behind center this year. The third-year starter struggled to push the ball downfield last season, making the Wisconsin passing game nonexistent.
Mertz has thrown for 697 passing yards with six touchdowns to two interceptions through the first three games.
The run game has long been a staple of the Wisconsin program. From Ron Dayne to Jonathan Taylor, the Badgers have always produced pro-ready backs. Braelon Allen and Chaz Mellusi have split the backfield work early for Wisconsin, and they’ve churned out 218.3 rushing yards per game thus far.
Allen leads the Badgers with 332 rushing yards and five touchdowns, while Mellusi has rushed for 163 yards and a score. Redshirt freshman Skyler Bell leads the team in receptions (12) and yards (201).
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
- ILL are 3-3 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- WIS are 3-3 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Fighting Illini are 4-4 ATS in their last 8 road games.
- Badgers are 5-3 ATS in their last 8 home games.
Free Week 5 NCAA Football Final Analysis:
This should be a physical game that describes what the Big Ten is all about. Both teams will lean on their ground game and defensive prowess here, with the battles of time of possession and field possession going a long way in determining the winner of this one.
Bret Bielema’s return to Madison could turn out be fitting after going 4-1 in this matchup. He’s got the Illinois’ program back in the right direction, and we like spotting his squad the points here in a mid-season contest that will mean a lot to the program. Wisconsin’s offense doesn’t scare anyone, and the Fighting Illini will be a sneaky team within the conference this season.
Take Illinois’ spread Saturday afternoon, give the under a look as well.
4* Free Week 5 NCAA Betting Pick: Illinois +7
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