College football odds: Wisconsin, USC join betting favorites for week ahead

OddsSharkSep 18, 2018, 8:47 AM EDT

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One week after their College Football Playoff hopes took a major hit, star running back Jonathan Taylor and the Wisconsin Badgers hit the road to face a rival with a knack of taking down ranked opponents at home.

The Badgers are 3.5-point road favorites against the Iowa Hawkeyes with a 41.5-point total on the college football odds for Saturday, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The winner of this matchup has played in the Big Ten championship game for four years running.

While Wisconsin had a double-digit drop in the polls after a loss against the Brigham Young Cougars last week, the OddsShark College Football Database shows they are 11-1 against the spread in their last 12 road games as well as 9-0 straight-up in their last nine. However, the Hawkeyes are 7-1 ATS in their last eight home games. Iowa also has a 5-2 ATS record in their last seven games as a home underdog at Kinnick Stadium, including outright wins against Ohio State and Michigan the last two seasons, when both were ranked in the Top 5.

It’s the road opener for the Badgers and quarterback Alex Hornibrook. The total has gone UNDER in seven of Wisconsin’s last eight road games after consecutive home games.

The USC Trojans are 3.5-point favorites against the Washington State Cougars with a 51.5-point total in a Friday matchup. The total has gone OVER in Washington State’s last four road games. USC is 0-6 ATS in its last six games.

The Stanford Cardinal are 2-point road favorites against the Oregon Ducks with a 55-point total. The total has gone OVER in 10 of Stanford’s last 13 games against Oregon. Oregon is 2-11 ATS in its last 13 home games in September.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 7.5-point road favorites against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons with a 55.5-point total. The total has gone OVER in seven of Notre Dame’s last 10 road games. Wake Forest is 2-11 SU in its last 13 home games against teams with winning records.

The Michigan Wolverines are 18-point favorites against the Nebraska Cornhuskers with a 49.5-point total. Nebraska is 4-1 ATS in its last five road games, but it is 0-6 SU in its last six games. Michigan is 15-0 SU in its last 15 home games against teams with losing records.

The TCU Horned Frogs are 3-point road favorites against the Texas Longhorns with a 51-point total. TCU is 7-2 SU and ATS in its last nine road games. The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Texas’ last 16 games against its conference.

The Georgia Bulldogs are 14.5-point road favorites against the Missouri Tigers with a 61.5-point total. Georgia is 7-1 SU and ATS in its last eight road games. The total has gone UNDER in 20 of Georgia’s last 26 road games in September. Missouri is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games.

The Clemson Tigers are 16.5-point road favorites against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets with a 52.5-point total. Clemson is 1-5 SU in its last six road games against Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech is 6-2 ATS in its last eight home games.

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 27-point betting favorites against the Texas A&M Aggies with a 61.5-point total. Texas A&M is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 road games against teams with winning records. The total has gone OVER in five of Alabama’s last six games in September.

And the Washington Huskies are 17.5-point favorites against the Arizona State Sun Devils with a 50-point total. Arizona State is 11-1 SU and 12-0 ATS in its last 12 games against Washington. Washington is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games against its conference.

For more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news check out the OddsShark podcast with Jon Campbell and Andrew Avery. Subscribe on iTunes or listen to it at OddsShark.libsyn.com.

Wisconsin college football history: Big Ten and national titles, stadium, 2023 season outlook and more

By Kyle LynchMay 11, 2023, 6:10 PM EDT

Winners of the inaugural Big Ten title in 1896, the Wisconsin Badgers enter a new era in 2023 with Luke Fickell taking over as head coach. Fickell takes over a team which finished last season with a losing conference record for the first time since 2008 and enters this year with a new quarterback under center.

Beginning this fall, NBC and Peacock will be the exclusive home of Big Ten Saturday Night, a primetime football game each weekend. Peacock will also serve as the exclusive home for eight additional Big Ten football games each season. Keep reading for a primer on all things Wisconsin and all things Big Ten ahead of the 2023 season.

How long has Wisconsin been in the Big Ten?

Wisconsin is one of the original members of the Big Ten, playing in the conference’s inaugural season in 1896. The Badgers won each of the first two conference titles, finishing first in the Big Ten in both 1896 and 1897.

Has Wisconsin ever won the Big Ten championship?

Wisconsin has won 14 Big Ten championships, including the inaugural title in the 1896 season. Their most recent Big Ten championship came in the 2012 season, which capped off three-straight conference titles for the Badgers from 2010 to 2012.

Has Wisconsin ever won the national championship?

No, Wisconsin has never won a national championship in football. In the 1962 season, Wisconsin finished second in both the AP and Coaches polls behind Southern Cal, who defeated Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl that season.

What is the name of Wisconsin’s stadium?

With a capacity of more than 80,000, Camp Randall Stadium serves as the home of the Wisconsin Badgers football team. The land was originally used for training Wisconsin troops during the Civil War and is named after Wisconsin’s first wartime governor, Alexander W. Randall. Camp Randall is home to one of college football’s greatest traditions, with the crowd erupting with the playing of the song “Jump Around” by House of Pain.

Who is Wisconsin’s head coach?

After leading Cincinnati for the past six seasons, Luke Fickell is entering his first year as head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers. Fickell replaces Paul Chryst, who was fired last October and replaced by Jim Leonhard, who finished the year as interim head coach. Fickell went 57-18 over his six seasons in Cincinnati, including a trip to the 2021 College Football Playoff. He is no stranger to the Big Ten, playing at Ohio State in the 1990’s and spending 16 of his first 18 seasons in coaching on the Buckeyes’ staff, including one year as head coach (2011).

What is Wisconsin’s mascot?

Bucky Badger (full name Buckingham U. Badger) is the mascot for the Wisconsin Badgers. While the badger has been the university’s mascot since 1889, the first costumed Bucky did not make an appearance until 1949 and is known for wearing his signature red and white striped shirt.

What is Wisconsin’s 2023 season outlook?

The Luke Fickell era is beginning in Madison, with Fickell taking over a team that has won a bowl game in eight of the past nine seasons. Coming with Fickell is new offensive coordinator Phil Longo, who spent the past four years in the same position at North Carolina. Longo is known for having a pass-heavy offense with the Tar Heels and will look to bring that to a Wisconsin program known for a ground-and-pound, run-heavy attack. Fickell and Longo brought in three new quarterbacks from the transfer portal to replace former starter Graham Mertz, who transferred to Florida. Redshirt senior Tanner Mordecai, who played at both Oklahoma and SMU, looks set to take over as the starting QB in Madison this year.

How to Watch Big Ten Football on NBC and Peacock

In August 2022, NBCUniversal and the Big Ten Conference today announced a landmark 7-year agreement for NBC and Peacock to become the exclusive home of Big Ten Saturday Night football, beginning in fall of 2023. Peacock will also serve as the exclusive home for eight additional Big Ten Football games each season.

NBC Sports/Peacock’s new agreement with college sports’ top conference will also feature dozens of men’s and women’s basketball games (including multiple games each year in the Men’s and Women’s Big Ten Tournaments), Olympic sports, golf and more, providing hundreds of hours of Big Ten content across Peacock.

What devices can I watch Peacock on?

Peacock is currently available on the Roku platform; Amazon FireTV and Fire tablets; Apple devices including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD; Google platforms and devices including Android™, Android TV™ devices, Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices; Microsoft’s Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One S and Xbox One X; Sony PlayStation4 and PlayStation 4 Pro; Samsung Smart TVs; VIZIO SmartCast™ TVs; LG Smart TVs; Comcast’s entertainment platforms including Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex, and XClass TV; and Cox’s Contour and Contour Stream Player devices. To learn more about Peacock and how to sign up, visit PeacockTV.com.

When will UCLA, USC join the Big Ten Conference?

By Annie CoryMar 14, 2023, 4:46 PM EDT

The Big Ten has served as one of the nation’s premier intercollegiate athletic conferences for over 125 years. Originally founded by a group of seven universities led by Purdue president James H. Smart, the group has grown by leaps and bounds since its formation in 1896. The conference that was originally comprised of seven teams grew to an eventual 14, and is now set to expand to 16 with the groundbreaking addition of UCLA and USC to the Big Ten.

When will USC, UCLA join the Big Ten?

Crosstown rival programs USC and UCLA both announced in summer 2022 that they will leave the Pac-12 Conference for the Big Ten on August 2, 2024.

The move rocked the college football world, considering the length of time that both schools were members of their previous conference. USC had held Pac-12 membership since 1922, winning a total of 39 conference football titles and nine basketball titles in that span. The UCLA Bruins were a part of the group since 1928, taking home 16 football and 32 basketball conference titles in those years.

UCLA and USC’s transition was announced on the heels of Oklahoma and Texas confirming their departure for the SEC last season, a move that is set to transpire ahead of the 2025 college football season.

Come 2024, the Pac-12 will be comprised of only 10 members, while the Big Ten will stretch from coast to coast.

What schools are in the Big Ten Conference?

University of Michigan
Ohio State University
Penn State University
University Maryland
Michigan State University
Indiana University
Rutgers University
Purdue University
University of Illinois
University of Iowa
University of Minnesota
University of Wisconsin
University of Nebraska
Northwestern University
USC (will join in 2024)
UCLA (will join in 2024)

Why is it called the Big Ten?

Despite its current 14 members, the conference retains its title of “Big Ten” to this day. The name originated after Michigan rejoined in 1917, bringing the membership from nine to 10 teams. Media members were the first to dub the group the “Big Ten”, which was eventually confirmed as the conference’s official name in 1987.

How can I watch Big Ten football, basketball and more?

While Big Ten football coverage for the 2023 season will be split among NBC, Fox and CBS, NBC and Peacock will be the home of the conference’s biggest game every week with Big Ten Saturday Night. NBC Sports’ new agreement with the Big Ten will also feature coverage of several men’s and women’s basketball games, Olympic sports, golf and more.

It became official in August of 2022 that NBC will air Big Ten Saturday Night on NBC and Peacock, with a primetime football game each fall weekend.