Wisconsin Badgers College Football Betting
As of now, the longest running FBS rivalry game in the country is slated to take place this Saturday. However, there’s a decent chance that Wisconsin’s tilt with Minnesota this week is canceled. The Golden Gophers are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak, and that forced them to cancel practice on Monday and Tuesday. The Badgers know what that’s like after having to cancel games against Nebraska and Purdue about a month ago.
Paul Bunyan’s Axe will be on the line if these rivals do meet on Saturday, November 28, at 2 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network. Wisconsin currently leads the series 61-60-8.
Wisconsin Badgers Weekly Odds
Wisconsin Badgers TBA
Minnesota Golden Gophers TBA
Total TBA
Wisconsin Badgers Weekly Matchup
If this game does go off, Mohamed Ibrahim figures to play a big part in Minnesota’s offense once again. Ibrahim has been used more than any other running back in college football through five games, carrying the ball 155 times for 817 yards (5.3 YPC) and 13 touchdowns. He has at least 25 carries in each game, and he has already surpassed his rushing total from 2019.
The reliance on Ibrahim is due in large part to the struggles of Tanner Morgan. Morgan has completed just 59.4 percent of his passes for 8.4 YPA with four touchdowns and four interceptions. His dizzying 2019 season is in the distant rear view even though he has an elite receiver in Rashod Bateman and a solid second option in Chris Autman-Bell. Bateman has 36 receptions for 472 yards, while Autman-Bell is averaging 22.5 YPC.
Wisconsin has one of the top defenses in the nation. The Badgers are second in scoring defense (11.7 PPG) and first in total defense (233.3 YPG). They are surrendering just 3.0 YPC and 5.4 YPA, but they have yet to play a good offense. Minnesota will be its toughest test yet this season in that regard.
On the other side of the ball, the Badgers want to establish the run. Jalen Berger is averaging 6.0 YPC, while Nakia Watson and Garrett Groshek are averaging 4.0 YPC. Wisconsin has run for 219.7 YPG through three games, taking the pressure off Graham Mertz.
Mertz was spectacular in his debut against Illinois, but he hasn’t been as good since the Badgers started playing again. He has completed just over 55 percent of his passes for 557 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Mertz is averaging just 5.7 YPA, and his only real threat in the passing game is tight end Jake Ferguson.
The Golden Gophers might have the worst defense in the Big Ten. This unit was seen as a question mark coming into the season, and they have been abominable through five games. Minnesota is allowing 34.8 PPG and 455.6 YPG, and the 7.5 yards per play average is the second-worst in all of college football.
Wisconsin Badgers Weekly Recap
The Badgers’ Big Ten title hopes likely went up in smoke after last week’s loss to Northwestern. The Wildcats gritted out a 17-7 to move to 5-0 in the Big Ten West, so they would have to lose two of their last three games to miss out on a division crown.
Mertz threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Chimere Dike in the first quarter, but that was the only score for Wisconsin’s offense all day. Outside of that one big play, he completed just 22 of 40 passes for 181 yards with three interceptions on the afternoon. Tight end Jake Ferguson was again the top receiver with seven receptions for 58 yards. Jalen Berger ran the ball 15 times for 93 yards, but the rest of the Badgers teamed up to provide just 43 yards on 25 carries.
Wisconsin’s front seven was great, holding Northwestern to 23 carries for 24 yards. Peyton Ramsey didn’t have a lot of success through the air either, but five Badgers’ turnovers were the difference.
2020 Wisconsin Badgers Schedule
| Date |
Opponent |
Score |
| Oct 23 |
vs. Illinois |
W 45-7 |
| Oct 31 |
@ Nebraska |
Canceled |
| Nov 7 |
vs. Purdue |
Canceled |
| Nov 14 |
@ Michigan |
W 49-11 |
| Nov 21 |
@ Northwestern |
L 7-17 |
| Nov 28 |
vs. Minnesota |
- |
| Dec 5 |
vs. Indiana |
- |
| Dec 12 |
@ Iowa |
- |
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