Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan State Spartans
Saturday, 10/2/10, 3:30 PM EDT, TV:  ABC
Opening Point Spread: Wisconsin -2.5
Current Betting Line: Wisconsin -2
Opening Total: 54.5
Current Total: 54
Current Moneyline: Wisconsin -130/Michigan State +110
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Wisconsin is 4-0 for the second consecutive season and sixth time in the last nine years.  Dating back to last season, the Badgers have won six consecutive games, which is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the country.  The team is set to open up its 115th Big Ten campaign, posting a 57-53-4 record in conference openers, including 25-28-3 on the road.  Under head coach Bret Bielema, the squad is 2-2 in Big Ten conference openers.  Wisconsin is 13-11 in Big Ten games over the last three years, including 4-8 on the road.  This particular contest is one of just three games in the country this week to pit a pair of 4-0 teams against each other.  The others are Stanford at Oregon and Florida at Alabama.  Over the last three seasons, the Badgers are an even 15-15 ATS over the last three years and the total is 14-17 O/U in those contests.

The Badgers offensive attack is led by junior running back John Clay, who is one of just five players in the country with at least 500 yards rushing this season.  The defense has also been doing its part, ranking among the top 20 in the country in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense.  The Badgers’ stop unit has given up five touchdowns this season, tied for second-fewest in the Big Ten.  Discipline has also been a hallmark of the team’s 2010 campaign, committing just 11 penalties, a mark that is tied for second-fewest in the country.  Wisconsin is 7-9 ATS versus conference opponents in their last 16 opportunities and the total is 10-5 O/U in those games.

Michigan State will receive an emotional boost with head coach Mark Dantonio returning to the sidelines after undergoing surgery to repair a blocked blood vessel leading to the heart.  “I’m going to ease back into this much like anybody would after any injury,” Dantonio said Tuesday.  “I’m going to listen to our doctors.”  The Spartans enter their 58th season of Big Ten competition with a 30-23-4 record in league openers and are an even 5-5 in such games since 2000.  Michigan State is also 4-2 when opening conference play against Wisconsin, including a 2-0 mark in games played in Spartan Stadium.  The team is 6-9 ATS in its last 15 conference games and 9-6 O/U over that span.

The Spartans have rushed for more than 200 yards in all four games this season and they currently rank fourth in the Big Ten and No. 17 in the nation in rushing, averaging 231.5 yards per game.  Under Dantonio, Michigan State is 12-2 in games it games 200-plus yards rushing, including a perfect 4-0 in 2010.  Another key to Saturday’s contest is homefield advantage, with Michigan State possessing a 323-142-13 record since starting to play at Spartan Stadium since 1923.  The squad is 56-56 ATS since 1992 at home, including a 4-6 ATS mark as a home underdog of three points or less in that span.

Bettors will note that the Badgers are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 road games, while the Spartans are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall.  The over is 6-1 in the last seven meetings

One of our college football picks we have on tap for this week actually involves this game.  We have 7 plays in all and you can get these premium winners on our college football predictions page.  We also have our 20 unit WAC conference game of the year included in that package.  Currently on a 71% run there is no better time than now to start following the best handicappers on the planet.  As for a free winner, the over looks like a solid play in this contest.  From a yards per play perspective both offenses have advantages over the others defenses and it doesn’t look like the bookmakers have accounted for this in the total.  Free play is the over, but again 7 solid college football predictions are on tap and I wouldn’t miss out as this will be a winning card once again.