The No. 13 LSU Tigers face the Wisconsin Badgers in a New Year's Day showdown in Tampa. The squads will meet in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium, with each entering on strong bowl runs. LSU is 4-1 in the last five bowl games, while Wisconsin is 8-1 in the last nine bowl appearances. The Tigers are 9-3 this season, while the Badgers are 7-5 overall. Of note, LSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels will not play as he prepares for the NFL Draft. The Badgers will be without star running back Braelon Allen, who has opted out as well.
For this noon ET kick, SportsLine consensus lists the Tigers as 9-point favorites. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 57.5 in the latest Wisconsin vs. LSU odds. Before making any LSU vs. Wisconsin picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a strong profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. The model enters bowl season a profitable 13-9 on top-rated spread picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on LSU vs. Wisconsin and just revealed its picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine to see the model's CFB picks. Here are several college football odds and trends for Wisconsin vs. LSU:
- Wisconsin vs. LSU spread: LSU -9
- Wisconsin vs. LSU over/under: 57.5 points
- Wisconsin vs. LSU money line: LSU -351, Wisconsin +272
- WIS: The Badgers are 5-6-1 against the spread this season
- LSU: The Tigers are 8-4 against the spread this season
- Wisconsin vs. LSU picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Wisconsin vs. LSU live stream: fubo (try for free)
Why Wisconsin can cover
Wisconsin has a favorable offensive matchup against LSU. The Badgers led the Big Ten with 4.7 yards per carry this season, averaging 163.9 rushing yards per game. Wisconsin was also No. 2 in the Big Ten on third down, converting 44.6% of attempts, and LSU struggles on defense. The Tigers allow 5.9 yards per play, No. 96 in the country, and LSU is giving up more than 27 points and 400 total yards per game.
LSU has allowed 30 points or more in seven of 12 games this season, and the Tigers have only 26 sacks in 12 games. Wisconsin's defense is much stronger, as the Badgers allow only 18.9 points per game. Wisconsin is allowing only 334.1 total yards and 193.3 passing yards per game, and the Badgers are in the top 20 nationally in yards allowed per play (4.8). Opponents average only 6.2 yards per pass and 3.8 yards per carry against Wisconsin, and the Badgers are allowing only 18.1 first downs per game. See which team to pick here.
Why LSU can cover
LSU is operating without its catalyst in Daniels, but backup Garrett Nussmeier has more than 1,300 career passing yards and arguably the best wide receiver duo in the country. Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas are both expected to play, and the pairing is one of four FBS sets of teammates with at least 1,000 receiving yards each. Nabers leads the country with 1,546 receiving yards while also catching 86 passes and producing 14 receiving touchdowns. Nabers is just 22 yards short of becoming LSU's career leader in receiving yards, and Thomas led the SEC with 15 receiving touchdowns.
He has 60 catches for 1,079 yards, and LSU led FBS in points scored (46.4 per game), yards per play (8.5), total yards per game (547.8), yards per pass attempt (11.0), and third down deficiency (56.2%) this season. Beyond the passing game, LSU led the SEC in rushing yards (213.5 per game) and led the country in yards per rush attempt (6.3). On the flip side, Wisconsin is scoring only 22.8 points per game, and the Badgers have only 11 passing touchdowns in 12 games. See which team to pick here.
How to make Wisconsin vs. LSU picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 51 combined points. It also says one side of the spread is the better value. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins LSU vs. Wisconsin, and which side of the spread is the better value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Wisconsin vs. LSU spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has notched a profit of well over $2,000 on its top-rated college football spread picks, and find out.
