#13 Wisconsin Badgers at Oregon St Beavers
Saturday, September 8, 2012, 4:00 pm Eastern, TV: FX
Reser Stadium – Corvallis, Oregon
Opening Line: Wisconsin -8
Current Line: Wisconsin -7
Opening Total: 55
Current Total: 50
Opening Money Line: Wisconsin -270 / Oregon St +230
Current Money Line: Wisconsin -270 / Oregon St +230
The Wisconsin Badgers and Oregon St Beavers meet for only the third time in history and the first time in Corvallis. The Badgers lead the series 2-0, including a 35-0 shutout last year in Madison. The only other previous meeting was way back in 1961 also in Madison.Wisconsin has won 34 straight non-conference games. No Big Ten team has played in Corvallis since 1971.
Wisconsin is coached by Bret Bielema. The 13th ranked Badgers opened at home last week against Northern Iowa. The Badgers were favored by 32.5 points. Wisconsin jumped out a 19-0 lead in the third quarter before Northern Iowa scored to pull within 12. Wisconsin scored again to take a 26-7 lead. The Panthers scored two touchdowns to pull within 26-21 with 7 minutes to go, but neither team scored for the rest of the game. Northern Iowa drove to the Wisconsin 41 with 2:31 left but were unable to convert a 4th and 1. The Badgers then ran out the clock to escape with the 5 point victory.
Wisconsin outgained Northern Iowa 387 to 306. The Badgers had 219 passing yards from quarterback Danny O’Brien, a transfer from Maryland. O’Brien completed 19/23 passes with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. Jared Abbrederis had 6 catches, 84 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Running back Montee Ball had 32 catches, 120 yards, and a touchdowns, along with 3 catches for 31 yards. Ball, a Heisman contender, has scored a touchdown in 21 straight games. Neither team had a turnover.
Oregon St is coached by Mike Riley. The Beavers were scheduled to open the season at home last week against Nicholls St. However, Nicholls St, which is located in Southeastern Louisiana. The Colonels found travel difficult with Hurricane Isaac bearing down on the area. The game was postponed and potentially rescheduled for December 1 if Oregon St isn’t in the Pac 12 Championship game and Nicholls St isn’t in the FCS playoffs.
Last year, Oregon St finished 3-9 straight up and 4-7-1 ATS. The total was 6-5-1 last year. The only wins for the Beavers came over Arizona, Washington St, and Washington. The Beavers lost in overtime to Sacramento St by one point, and UCLA by 8 points at home. Every other loss was by 15 points or more.
Sophomore quarterback Sean Mannion completed 64.5% of his passes for over 3,300 yards with 16 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Redshirt freshman Storm Woods will take over as the starting tailback. Receiver Markus Wheaton had 73 catches, 986 yards, and one touchdown.
The Oregon St defense will be led by end Scott Crichton who had 14.5 tackles for loss last year and cornerback Jordan Pryor who had 4 interceptions last year.
Wisconsin is 3-0-1 ATS after allowing 100 rushing yards or less, 4-1-1 in September, 1-4 on fieldturf, 1-5 after a straight up win, and overall, and 0-5 in road games. The Beavers are 3-7-1 ATS on fieldturf, 2-5 at home, 1-3-1 overall, 2-6-1 against teams with winning records, 2-6 in non-conference games, and 7-22-1 in September.
Even though Wisconsin struggled against Northern Iowa and has to travel across country, I still think they are a better team than a shaky Oregon St team. I like the Badgers to roll.
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