Its spotless season could be defaced as No. 3 Penn State (-6.5) takes a trip to see the uncharitable Wisconsin Badgers. The Nittany Lions clash with a defense that may be just as good as their own for the first time this season. With Penn State's defense looking a tad more balanced and a Nicholas Singleton eager to show flaws in a Wisconsin run protection, I'll dabble in the Nittany Lions to cover in this obvious battle of the defensive fronts.
Penn State vs Wisconsin Odds
Matchup Page: Penn State vs Wisconsin, 7:30 pm ET
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State Nittany Lions | -6.5 (-115) | -235 | OVER 47.5 (-110) |
| Wisconsin Badgers | +6.5 (-105) | +190 | UNDER 47.5 (-110) |
Odds as of October 23 at FanDuel
Penn State vs Wisconsin Picks – Week 9
He may be averaging nearly 250 passing yards per game this season, but Drew Allar is going to have some difficulty trying to work around Wisconsin's passing defense. Allowing 162.8 yards on average, and just 100.7 yards across their last three outings, the Badgers don't let much fly through the air.
While Wisconsin is getting stingier, Penn State seems to be slipping up; allowing 167.5 passing yards this season and inflating that number to 190.7 yards through its last three appearances. In their last performance against USC, the Nittany Lions allowed over 400 total yards, a display we're not used to seeing from a top five ranked defense.
But, the rushing defense has stayed solid and that'll be the difference maker on Saturday night. The Badgers are still getting adjusted to life without Tyler Van Dyke, resting their playmaking on RB Tawee Walker, who has seen 104 carries for 565 yards and nine touchdowns. Well, the Lions are barely handing out 95 rushing yards per game.
James Franklin group just has a tiny bit more edge on the road here, enough to sneak out an extra score or two on the Badgers.
Penn State vs Wisconsin Week 9 Pick: Penn State -6.5 (-115)
*picks made as of Wednesday, October 23 at 12:30 pm ET
Penn State vs Wisconsin News
We saw Nicholas Singleton return from a brief undisclosed injury against USC last week and the star running back was a tad rusty, pocketing a calm 65 total yards; which falls bleak of what he's produced all season. I would anticipate last week's rust has worn off.
Singleton and Kaytron Allen have easily been one of the nation's most lethal rushing duos, combining for over 800 yards. The pair know what's at stake and should go full throttle.
Penn State vs Wisconsin Prop Bet: nicholas singleton OVER 87.5 Rushing + Receiving Yards (-115)
Like I've been saying, Penn State will have to limit its passing plays thanks to Wisconsin's stout defense. But, the Badgers aren't as good at stopping the run, allowing 142.7 YPG (ranked 58th). Averaging 124.1 rushing/receiving yards per game, Singleton clearly has a trend of obliterating what this line is set at. I believe he'll do so again this time around, though I will admit I think most of his yards will be forced on the ground.
Penn State vs Wisconsin Betting Trends
- Wisconsin is 4-1 SU (80.0%) in its last 5 games at home
- The UNDER hit in 7 of Wisconsin's last 10 games at home
- Wisconsin is 3-6 ATS (33.3%) in its last 9 games at home
