While it may be true that THE game of the week is down south in the Swamp between #2 Alabama against #12 Florida it’s not the only marquee matchup of the week. There just happens to be a HUGE game between 2 Top 10 teams in #8 Nebraska at #7 Wisconsin.
Both teams enter this game with identical 4-0 records. Neither team has to date played an opponent truly capable of beating them. The winner of this game will in all likelihood be the odds on favorite to win the conference. Ok, that would be an early call seeing how Michigan is still undefeated as well but it is safe to say that the winner will be a factor in the winner of the conference.
This is Nebraska’s inaugural season in the Big 10 and expectations are high coming from the Big 12 and being a traditional powerhouse or at least former powerhouse, they still carry a tradition about them. Many outside the Big 10 have been saying for years that the conference is overrated and no team in the conference outside maybe Ohio St could play in the Big 12, Pac 10 (12? 14? whatever) and certainly not in the SEC. So with thoughts like that Nebraska in the minds of many probably are just going through the motions in order to get their automatic bid, right?
While there may have been expectations by default for Nebraska there are expectations earned on Wisconsin’s part. For the past several years we have seen this team improving a little at a time and it stood to reason that their time was coming. Well it looks like a certain NC State transfer may very well be the final piece to the puzzle. Russell Wilson is a dynamic playmaker both with his arm as well as his feet. He may not be as physical a runner as Kam Newton was but he appears to be more elusive and certainly is a better passer at least in my opinion. He is not the whole reason though. Wisconsin has a solid football team on both sides of the ball. They are a physical running team and have shown they can throw the ball down the field as well. The Badgers also are playing some pretty solid defense albeit as of yet haven’t really played anyone on the same level.
Ok, so basically all we have so far is a bunch of expectations, who will win the game and more importantly who will cover?
Odds
Nebraska +9 (-110)
Wisconsin -9 (-110)
These lines are taken from 5Dimes.com, our top rated college football betting site. Visit 5Dimes.com to check the up to date odds.
Prediction
As good as Nebraska is and as much tradition as they carry with them and regardless of how easy it was thought the Big 10 might be I don’t see them complete enough to stop what Wisconsin is capable of doing. If this game were on a neutral site I would still side with Wisconsin but lean to Nebraska covering. Being that the game is at maybe one of the Top 10 Homefield’s in the country I side with Wisconsin also covering. I think Wisconsin wins this one 31-17.
Play: Wisconsin -9
Written by: David Wallace
NCAA Football • Nebraska Cornhuskers • prediction • Wisconsin Badgers