Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan Wolverines
Saturday, 11/20/10, 12:00 PM EDT, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Wisconsin -5.5
Current Betting Line: Wisconsin -4
Opening Total: 64.5
Current Total: 67.5
Current Moneyline: Wisconsin -175 / Michigan +155
Wisconsin is 9-1 for the first time since 2006 and is coming in off a 83-20 blowout victory of the Indiana Hoosiers last week. The point total served as the highest in the modern era for the football program and the most in a Big Ten game since Ohio State scored 83 against Iowa in 1950. The team is in a three-way tie for first place in the conference standings with Ohio State and Michigan State, with the team ranked highest in the BCS standings earning a Rose Bowl berth if each team wins out. The Badgers will have their hands full this week, dropping five consecutive contests at Michigan Stadium, including a 2725 defeat in 2008. Wisconsin is 16-18 ATS over the last three yeas and the college football lines page has them listed as a road favorite.
The Badgers have forced seven turnovers in the last two games and scored points off of each of them, totaling 45 points. Wisconsin forced just seven total turnovers in the first eight games. On the other end, the team has been extremely protective of the football, committing just seven turnovers of its own. The top three running backs on offense have combined for 393 touches and fumbled the ball just once. It’s important to point out that head coach Brett Bielema’s squad has won consecutive Big Ten road games for the first time since 2006. In order to get out of Ann Arbor with a win, the defense will need to continue its strong play against the run, ranking fourth in the conference and 25th nationally in rushing defense (125.1 ypg).
Michigan is looking to end the season with a flurry of wins after picking up a triple-overtime victory over Illinois and last week’s 27-16 win over Purdue to push its record to 7-3 overall. Quarterback Denard Robinson continues to be the spark plug for this squad, ranking second nationally with 340.7 yards of total offense per game, but his numbers have fallen off the last two weeks. He’s rushed for a total of 130 yards in his last two games, after averaging 160.9 yards rushing over the first eight games. “There’s pretty good people he’s playing against, but I don’t think he’s hit a wall,” said head coach Rich Rodriguez. “I just think he had some bad moments in the last game.” The team is 1-8 ATS in weeks 10 through 13.
The Wolverines will be meeting the Badgers for the 64th time this afternoon and hold a 49-13-1 lead in the all-time series. Prior to today’s game, Michigan will also be honoring 21 senior football players who will be playing their final home game at Michigan Stadium. The program has compiled an impressive 300-122-20 all-time record in November, but has fallen off under Rodriguez, posting a 3-6 mark in the 11th month of the year.
Bettors will be interested in knowing that the Badgers are 4-0 ATS in their last four conference games, while the underdog is 6-1-1 ATS in the last eight meetings.
The college football handicappers at Maddux Sports are ready for you to join them all weekend long.
