The No. 25 Cornhuskers of Nebraska (+14) are ready to welcome their conference counterpart Wisconsin Badgers (-14) to Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium. BTN has the TV rights and kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Wisconsin Badgers
In this Saturday Big Ten matchup, Wisconsin is projected as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 14 points. The Badgers are also receiving -735 moneyline odds while the Cornhuskers are +500. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 51.5 points, and it appears that there might be some good live betting opportunities in this showdown.
The total hasn’t moved after it was initially set at 51.5. Having said that, the opening line was 11.5 so the early action has moved toward the Badgers.
The Badgers have gained 3.0 units so far and are 5-4 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U mark of 3-6.
The Cornhuskers have been a disappointment to moneyline bettors this season, losing 4.3 units. They’re 1-8 ATS and own an O/U record of 3-5-1.
The Badgers are 7-2 straight up (SU), including 4-2 SU against conference opponents. The Cornhuskers are 4-5 SU overall and 2-4 SU in conference play.
The Badgers enter after a 24-22 victory over Iowa last week. Jack Coan completed 16 passes for only 173 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Jonathan Taylor (250 yards on 31 rush attempts) led the ground attack while Quintez Cephus (five receptions, 94 yards, one TD) and Danny Davis III (four catches, 19 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Nebraska most-recently suffered a 31-27 loss to Purdue. Adrian Martinez completed 22-of-39 passes for 247 yards and one interception. Wan’Dale Robinson (29 yards on 14 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Martinez (58 yards on 12 carries, two TDs) led the running game as Robinson (seven receptions, 46 yards) and JD Spielman (six catches, 123 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Wisconsin has run the ball on 64.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Nebraska has a rush percentage of 61.5 percent. The Badgers have run for 225.7 yards/game (including 208.3 per game versus Big Ten opponents) and have 25 scores on the ground this year. The Cornhuskers are logging 186.3 rush yards per game (193.7 in conference) and have 20 total rushing TDs.
If the results so far this season can translate to this game, then the Badgers may have an edge when it comes to RB efficiency. Their backfield has produced 5.0 yards per carry while the defense is allowing 2.9 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Cornhuskers have registered 4.3 yards per carry and given up a YPC of 4.3 to opponents.
The Badgers offense has averaged 193.2 yards through the air overall (161 per game against conference opposition) and has 12 passing TDs so far. The Cornhuskers have put up 222.8 pass yards per game (208 against Big 10 foes) and have eight total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, Wisconsin appears to have the upper hand in both phases. The team has allowed 84.4 rush yards and 147 pass yards per game. The Nebraska defense has allowed 232.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 173.7 yards per game on the ground. The Badgers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 3.09 to opposing QBs, while the Cornhuskers have given up a 5.54 ANY/A.
Martinez has connected on 110-of-185 passes for 1,492 yards, seven TDs and six INTs for Nebraska. His adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 6.34 for the season and 4.92 over his last two outings. In the other locker room, Coan has put up 1,556 passing yards this year, and has connected on 143-of-192 attempts with 11 passing touchdowns and only three interceptions. Coan’s got a 7.79 ANY/A for the year, although that number is 5.44 over the past two games.
When these two squads met last year, Wisconsin got the victory over Nebraska, 41-24.
Wisconsin Badgers vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Free Pick
SU Winner: Nebraska, ATS Winner: Nebraska, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The Wisconsin defense has sacked opposing QBs 33 times this season. Nebraska has recorded just 21 sacks.
- Nebraska has lost 11 fumbles in 2019 while Wisconsin has let nine get away.
- The Badgers offense has tallied two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Cornhuskers have accounted for 10 such plays.
- The Wisconsin defense has allowed three pass plays of 40+ yards, while Nebraska has given up five such plays.
- The Wisconsin offense has created 16 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Nebraska has created 15 such runs.
- The Badgers defense has allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Cornhuskers have given up 14 such runs.
- The Over/Under for Nebraska’s last game was 57. The over cashed in the 31-27 loss to Purdue.
- Over its last three matchups, Nebraska is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- In its last three games, Wisconsin is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Nebraska has lost five of its last six games SU, with a three-point win over Northwestern on October 5th accounting for its only victory over that stretch.
- The Over/Under for Wisconsin’s last game was 37.5. The over cashed in the team’s 24-22 win over Iowa.
- Wisconsin, as a team, has averaged 4.4 yards per rush attempt over its past three games and 4.8 over its last two.
- Nebraska has averaged 3.9 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.1 over its past two.
