The No. 14 Michigan Wolverines can start a season 5-0 for the first time since 2016 when they travel to Madison, Wisc., to take on the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium. The Wolverines (4-0, 1-0 in Big Ten) have wins this season over Western Michigan, Washington, Northern Illinois and Rutgers. With one more win, they would go to 5-0 and join the 2016 Michigan team that started 9-0 and finished the year 10-3. The Badgers (1-2, 0-1) are coming off a 41-13 loss to then-No. 12 Notre Dame.
Kickoff is noon ET. The Badgers are two-point favorites in the latest Wisconsin vs. Michigan odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 43.5. Before making any Michigan vs. Wisconsin picks or college football predictions, you need to see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,300 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. After going a sizzling 9-3 in Week 4, It also enters Week 5 of the 2021 season on a 81-61 run on all top-rated college football picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now the model has dialed in on Wisconsin vs. Michigan and just revealed its CFB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are the college football odds and betting lines and trends for Michigan vs. Wisconsin:
- Wisconsin vs. Michigan spread: Badgers -2
- Wisconsin vs. Michigan over-under: 43.5 points
- Wisconsin vs. Michigan moneyline: Badgers -140, Wolverines +120
- WISC: The defense leads the country in rushing yards allowed per game (23.0)
- MICH: The Wolverines are giving up just 11.8 points per game, which ranks fourth in the country
Why the Badgers can cover
Wisconsin has the stingiest run defense in the nation. The Badgers give up a paltry 23.0 rushing yards per game. That leads the country and is half the amount allowed by the No. 2 run defense, San Diego State (46.0). Last week against the Fighting Irish, Wisconsin allowed just three rushing yards.
In addition, the Badgers have owned the series against Michigan recently. Wisconsin has beaten the Wolverines the last two seasons, winning by a combined margin of 59 points. The Badgers have not lost to Michigan at home since 2001.
Why the Wolverines can cover
Michigan squares off against a quarterback, Graham Mertz, who has struggled this season against teams from Power Five conferences. In two games this year against Power Five teams (Penn State and Notre Dame), he has thrown six interceptions versus only one touchdown and has completed just 51.3 percent of his passes. Over his last eight games dating to last season, Mertz has thrown three touchdowns versus 11 interceptions.
In addition, Wisconsin has lost the turnover battle all season. After committing nine turnovers and gaining just two over the first three games, the Badgers are the worst team in the country in turnover margin (-2.33 turnover margin per game). Meanwhile Michigan has not turned the ball over even once this year.
How to make Wisconsin vs. Michigan picks
The model has simulated Michigan vs. Wisconsin 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning under on the point total, and it's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model's Wisconsin vs. Michigan ATS pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Michigan vs. Wisconsin? And which side is covering well over 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Wisconsin vs. Michigan spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is on an 81-61 run on top-rated picks, and find out.
