NCAA Football Odds: Badgers roll at UNLV

John Clay and the Wisconsin Badgers should roll over the UNLV Rebels.

The Wisconsin Badgers return 18 starters from a team that went 10-3 last season, which means that expectations are once again high in Madison. Meanwhile, the UNLV Running Rebels are just hoping to climb back to relevancy as Bobby Hauck makes his FBS coaching debut.

Wisconsin Badgers at UNLV Running Rebels
Saturday – 12:30 p.m. PT
College football betting odds : Wisconsin minus 20 ½
Total: 57 ½

The Wisconsin Badgers Can Win Because…

UNLV will have no answer for their running game. The Badgers have a stable of top-tier running backs led by the Big Ten player of the year, John Clay. But the bigger concern for UNLV will be the Badgers offensive line, which is one of the best in the nation. UNLV has some big bodies on their defensive line but Wisconsin’s front five will push them around all day long.

Quarterback Scott Tolzien is effective enough to make a few good throws to the tight ends to keep the Rebels on their heels a little bit and the running game will do the rest.

The Rebels are a team in transition. They have a brand new coaching staff and they have no identity right now. Wisconsin has clear-cut talent, size and consistency advantages and this should not be a close game if they are focused.

The UNLV Running Rebels Can Win Because…

It’s Wisconsin: they don’t handle big expectations very well. Wisconsin entered 2000 at No. 4 and No. 7 in 2007 but both years they finished the season outside of the Top 20. Beyond that, the Badgers have proven to be very good at Camp Randall but vulnerable away from home.

The Running Rebels will have to hope that the mental aspects come into play because if Wisconsin isn’t half asleep, the Rebels don’t stand much of a chance of winning this game.

One scrap of good news for UNLV is that Wisconsin won’t have a lot of film on their offense. They’ve shelved the spread attack for a more conventional offense, so they will have a slight element of surprise in that regard.

While the Badgers have won 24 straight non-conference games, the last team to beat them was UNLV (back in 2003). Some food for thought as the Badgers enter the 100-degree heat in Vegas.

Key Stats
-Badgers are 5-1 straight up against UNLV in last six meetings; UNLV is 3-2 against the spread
-UNLV is 1-8 in their last nine games against Big Ten opponents

Outlook & Football Betting Prediction

Laying a big college football betting spread with the Badgers isn’t exactly enticing. They are a team that likes to run the ball and milk the clock, so laying three touchdowns sounds a bit dicey.

They’ll be firmly in control of this contest but the better bet is to take UNLV with the point at home. They’ll manage to keep this within three touchdowns.

NCAA betting Pick: Running Rebels plus 20 ½