Week 11 College Football Favorites: Illinois At Wisconsin

Posted by Henry Watkins on Thursday,November 10, 2016 2:45, EDT in

We are all very aware of what is going on in the Big 10 East now, but if you are focusing all your attention on that race, then you are missing out on a great battle in the West. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska are all sitting at 7-2 on the season, and 4-2 in conference play. This is a fight that is going to go down to the wire, and none of these three teams can afford any sort of slips ups in the final few weeks. Wisconsin would appear to have a somewhat straightforward game ahead of them this weekend, as they will be welcoming in a struggling Illinois team that hasn’t done anything to impress so far this season. While Wisconsin have been picking up the wins this season, they haven’t exactly been doing so in convincing style, at least not on the scoreboard. They have been involved in a lot of tight games, which is why it’s a bit of a surprise to see them as a 26.5-point online betting favorite for this one.

In Depth Analysis On The Week 11 College Football Favorites: Fighting Illini At Badgers

When: Saturday, November 12 at 3:30 PM EST
Where: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: Watch ESPN
NCAAF Odds: TBA

 

 

Why bet on the Illinois Fighting Illini

If the Illini are to pull off the stunning upset in this one, they are going to have to get it done on offense. This is not a team that is especially effective in moving the football, and they are going against a defense that has been magnificent all season long. While Illinois are just 5-4 ATS so far this season, they are a perfect 3-0 ATS in road lined games, and 4-2 ATS versus conference foes. Keeping this one close will mean finding a way to slow down Corey Clement in the running game, which is a task that is far easier said than done. Illinois Fighting Illini have lost the last 2 meetings with Wisconsin, but only by an average of 10.5-points.

Why bet on the Wisconsin Badgers

6 of the 9 games that the Badgers have played this season have been decided by 8 points or less, and it has been the defense that has routinely stepped up to the plate to secure wins. I expect the defense to be dominant again this weekend, and how big the Badgers win is likely going to come down to how well Clement runs the ball. If the Badgers can get on the board early, we are likely going to see a very heavy dose of the ground game, which is something that may help keep the final score on the respectable side of things. The Badgers only have 1 loss at home this season, and I just don’t see it becoming 2 this weekend.

 

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Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

I think it fair to say that the Badgers defense is going to be able to repel most of what Illinois throws at them, and it will be a matter of just how determined Wisconsin are to run up the score here.

Illinois Fighting Illini 7 Wisconsin Badgers 28