No. 25 Wisconsin at Purdue
Time: NOON ET
Spread: WIS -17
Total: 54
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
The 25th ranked Wisconsin Badgers are 6-2 on the season and have won three of its four Big Ten contests. Traveling to Purdue this week should result in the Badgers improving to 4-1 in conference play. College football odds show the Badgers as 17-point favorites over the lowly Purdue Boilermakers.
Wisconsin has been good this year, if not predictable. The Badgers rank 3rd in the nation in rushing yardage, with 333.4 per game. But in the air, the Badgers generate just 143.6 yards per game, ranking near the bottom of D-1 schools. It hasn’t mattered much due to the strength of the run game, but also of the defense. Wisconsin is giving up just 14.1 points per game, while scoring 37.1 per contest.
In fact, the Badgers have given up just seven points in its past two contests combined. Last week, Wisconsin shut out Rutgers 37-0.
Leading rusher Melvin Gordon is battling a knee injury but is expected to play. He’s rushed for 1,296 yards on the season with 18 TDs, while averaging 7.5 yards per carry. No. 2 back Corey Clement has rushed for 697 yards, still averaging 6.6 yards per game. Dual-threat QB Tanner McEvoy has thrown for just 703 yards with a 57.7 percent completion ratio, but he averages 9.3 yards per carry and has scored three rushing TDs on the year, to offset his subpar passer rating of 114.9.
Purdue’s last victory came Oct. 4 against Illinois. Since that time, the Boilermakers have dropped contests to Michigan State, Minnesota, and Nebraska last week. Purdue is 0-2 against AP ranked opponents this season.
The Boilermakers benched sophomore QB Danny Etling, but haven’t seen Justin Appleby be much better. Both sport similar QB ratings and Etling said he just “needs to get (his) confidence back.” The problem is that Purdue just isn’t that good and neither QB is outstanding enough to save the offense.
The Boilermakers have got good production from its backfield, with three rushers averaging 5.6 yards or more per carry, and Akeem Hunt has 706 yards and five TDs on the season. Purdue has scored 16 TDs via the rush this year and 13 by reception.
