3.3* NCAAF Play - Wisconsin vs. USC

[Pick Bot]

Wisconsin +3.5 3.3* play

There are a few reasons why I like the Badgers in this game. For one they are catching a bunch of grief for having a weak schedule, but their loses are against Alabama, Iowa and Northwestern. They arguably could have won 2 of those 3 as they were –TO margin in all 3 games, the only 3 games they were negative in the TO margin all season long. USC’s defense is well below average with above average tendencies. I believe the extra time and the fact Wisconsin gets Corey Clement back for this game will give them all they need to win this game or at least stay within the 3 points. I also think Joel Stave could have a great game against USC who is ranked 96th in passing yards allowed.

When you look at this match up I have to compare what the PAC 12 did this season vs. the Big 10. Big 10 seems like the better conference with a small sample size, but it all started with Ohio State dominating Oregon in the national championship game last year. This year Northwestern started the year beating up on Stanford, the PAC 12’s best team. Washington State barely got by Rutgers by 3. Michigan dominated Oregon State, Michigan State beat Oregon, and Michigan lost against Utah on the road by 7 because of 3 interceptions. So far this bowl season though Nebraska went out west and defeated UCLA. Making it 4-2 against the PAC 12 which is very impressive.

Of course that’s not the only reason I’m picking Wisconsin here. USC has not played a defense even close to this good, and they don’t really have the explosive type of offense that’s going to give Wisconsin issues in my opinion. Wisconsin was a balanced defense good against the pass and the run, and although USC’s offense was very efficient they played against PAC12 defenses which were not very good this year even Stanford was 67th in yards per play allowed.