Best Betting Lines For Penn State Vs. Wisconsin Week 1 Matchup

• The Wisconsin Badgers are 5.5-point favorites and have (-210) odds on the moneyline for Saturday’s game .
• The Penn State Nittany Lions come back with (+175) odds as the betting underdog.
• The total for the game is set at 49.5 with a (-110) line on both sides.

MADISON, Wis. – The No. 19 Penn State Nittany Lions will travel to play the No. 12 Wisconsin Badgers and kick off the first ranked matchup of the college football season. Wisconsin is favored by less than a touchdown.

Betting The Spread: 5.5 Points

When the game kicks off Saturday at 12 p.m. EST on the FOX Network, it’ll be the first game between two ranked opponents for the 2021-2022 college football season. Regulated sports betting sites have set the Wisconsin Badgers as favorites over the Penn State Nittany Lions.

The fate for the Badgers may fall on Graham Mertz’ shoulders. In 2020, he showed promise in some games but overall did not have a fantastic season. If Mertz doesn’t have a good game, it’ll be on the Badgers’ defense to stop the PSU offense. Wisconsin has eight of their 11 defensive starters returning who all ranked in the top 10 in both yards and points allowed per game last season.

However, the Nittany Lions are no walk in the park. Those betting on college football should be aware that Penn State has won each of the last four meetings against Wisconsin as well as six of the last seven games. Sean Clifford, Penn State’s starter, claims to be the most confident quarterback in the country heading into the matchup.

Penn State didn’t lose too much talent on either side of the ball and if the team plays as it did at the closeout of last season, the Nittany Lions have a chance to not only cover the spread but win straight up as a (+175) underdog.

Betting The Total: 49.5 Points

Wisconsin’s identity has been to run the football for quite some time. With Penn State’s loaded backfield, the same could be said for them. Due to the expected rush-heavy attacks and stout defenses, the total is set fairly low.

However, seven of the Nittany Lions’ nine games had at least 50 points last season while only two of Wisconsin’s six games had 50+ points. It should be noted that Wisconsin had multiple mid-season breaks due to COVID-19 cancellations and that’s a fair excuse for the rocky season the team had. Lastly, three of the last five times the teams met one another the total was north of 50 points.

News tags: College Football | Penn State Nittany Lions | Wisconsin Badgers