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Free Week 1 Prediction: Badgers vs. Bulls Odds
Looking for Wisconsin Badgers vs. South Florida Bulls free picks? Week 1 betting sees the Badgers taking on the Bulls Friday August 30 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football predictions like this Wisconsin South Florida Week 1 free pick.
College Football Handicapping: Week 1
(0-0) Wisconsin Badgers vs. South Florida Bulls (0-0)
Date: Friday, August 30th 2019
Time: 7:00 pm EST
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
NCAA Football Spread: Badgers -12.5
NCAA Betting Total: 57.5
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The Wisconsin Badgers enter the season ranked #17 in the nation but they travel right out of the gates, visiting Tampa and the South Florida Bulls. Oddsmakers aren’t giving the Bulls much of a chance in their home opener, listing them as +12.5 underdogs.
Wisconsin Badgers
The Badgers aren’t a sure thing in this contest, especially on the road. In 2018 Wisconsin started off the season with three straight home games and ended up falling in week 3 to BYU by the score of 21-24. The Badgers were -23.5 favorites in that game.
Wisconsin was just 2-3 on the road a season ago while USF started off their 2018 campaign 7-0 before going into a tailspin. These two teams last met up in 2014 with Wisconsin scoring a 27-10 win in Madison but as -33 favorites.
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It’s no secret what the Badgers are going to set out to do on Friday night and that’s pound the ball with Heisman candidate Jonathan Taylor. The junior led the country with 2,194 rushing yards last season. Taylor is up against a USF defense that allowed 32 ppg last season and 247 ypg on the ground.
Wisconsin has a talented group of wideouts but they do lose four starters on the offensive line.
The biggest question heading into Friday’s opener is how new QB Jack Coan is going to fare as the team’s new signal caller? 3-year starter Alex Hornibrook has transferred for his final year of eligibility leaving the junior Coan, who had 93 attempts a year ago, as the starter.
What Coan does have is a security blanket not only in the running game of Taylor, but also emerging start TE Jake Ferguson. As a redshirt freshman a season ago, Ferguson caught 36 balls and 4 TD. The line situation isn’t as bad as it looks either with future pro C Tyler Biadasz and 4 players total who at least have starting experience.
South Florida Bulls
South Florida has some upside to at least cover in Friday’s contest as they enter the third season under coach Charlie Strong. Perhaps the biggest addition to the team is new OC Kerwin Bell, a former Florida QB who helped lead division II Valdosta State to a 2018 national championship as head coach.
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USF also has the QB edge on paper in this one as SR. Blake Barnett is back to run the offense. Barnett should thrive in Bell’s offense that averaged 52 points and over 520 yards per game in D2.
USF also returns 9 starters for an offense that started off 2018 7-0 which included wins over Georgia Tech and Illinois.
USF seemingly would have their work cut out against them vs. the Badgers defense that was top 35 in scoring, passing, and total yard defense.
The Bulls were held to 17 points or less in 3 of their last 4 regular season games a year ago but that was when the team was in a rut from a 6-game losing streak. Hope springs eternal on opening night.
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
- Badgers are 13-4 ATS last 17 road games
- Badgers are 4-9 ATS their last 13 overall
- Bulls are 5-2 ATS last 7 vs. Big Ten
- Bulls are 0-5 ATS last 5 home games
Free Week 1 NCAA Football Pick
There’s a lot of unknowns in this one with USF debuting a new offensive coordinator and Wisconsin going with a new starter at QB. Both teams can score, but Wisconsin’s defense was really good out of the gates last season.
The O/U is 57.5 in this one, even though the Badgers want to simply pound the ball with Taylor and lead Coan get comfortable at his own pace.
4* Free NCAA Betting Pick: Under 57.5
USF put up a lot of points last season but it was with a frantic pace. OC Bell wants to be more efficient with his play calling and Strong knows his best chance to win this game is 24-21 and not 48-45.
Week 1 Free Score Prediction: Wisconsin 31 – South Florida 24
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