The Wisconsin Badgers should be checking their mailbox for thank you cards from bookmakers all across the country after Paul Chryst’s kids shocked the then No. 5 ranked LSU Tigers 16-14 as decided underdogs last Saturday afternoon at Lambeau Field. The Akron Zips were the only team in the MAC East to win their season opener last week. One of these teams will move to 2-0 in Week 2, and it likely won’t be the one that enters this contest as heavy underdogs.
This contest in Week 2 of the regular season will go down Saturday, September 10, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. ET at Camp Randall Stadium.
College Football at BookMaker.eu
Akron +25
Wisconsin -25
Over/Under 45
Odds Analysis
It looks like the betting public is expecting a bit of a letdown for Wiscy after it shocked just about everyone not living in the Madison city limits by ousting LSU last week. The betting line originally opened at 25.5 and has since been bet down to 25 where it currently sits. While the move isn’t substantial, it still shows some support for the Zips even though close to 55 percent of the action is currently riding the Badgers.
The total saw some interesting line movement with it getting immediately bet down from the 45.5 point opener to as low as 43 before popping back up to 45 where it currently resides. It’s possible the 1-2 punch of Thomas Woodson and Jerome Lane has bettors thinking the Zips can help push this game over the total in garbage time.
Players to Watch
The Zips have a sensational quarterback/wide receiver combo in the forms of juniors Woodson and Lane. The former threw for over 2200 yards a season ago after becoming the full time starter after Week 4, while the latter was the beneficiary of his quarterback’s success with 39 receptions, 782 yards and eight touchdowns.
The duo was electric last week against VMI with Woodson throwing for 407 yards and a whopping 6:1 TD/INT ratio, while Lane reeled in 10 of his 23 overall completions for 196 yards and two scores. Also a deep threat, JoJo Natson turned his four receptions into 90 yards and three touchdowns with one of the 46 yard variety. This trio will once again have be on top of its game. Wisconsin limited LSU to just 131 passing yards, but let’s face it, the Tigers are pretty limited in the passing department.
Matchup to Watch
Akron’s stop unit returns just four starters from last year that was one of the best in the MAC and ranked out top 25 nationally in both total and scoring defense. While it did a solid job of limiting the Keydets to just 86 yards on 45 carries, it was gouged through the air to the tune of 300 yards at 8.1 yards per pass play.
Though Wisconsin sported a 16.1 OYPP average versus LSU, the Tigers just might own one of the best defenses in the country. Bart Houston was pretty decent finding open wide receivers when he wasn’t throwing interceptions, while Corey Clement averaged 4.1 yards per carry and hit pay dirt once. These guys should find it much easier to dissect a retooled Akron defense that was gouged through the air last week.
Make it a point to see if Clement is getting resistance immediately at the point of attack. If not, the ease in which he’s able to run the ball will allow for Houston to take advantage with big gainers through the air once Akron loads the box.
Free ATS Pick
Both of these clubs were terribly sloppy with the ball last week with the Zips turning it over twice while the Badgers coughed it up three times themselves. Whichever of these teams does a better job of valuing possession more will have a leg up at covering this lofty pointspread.
Camp Randall used to be one of the tougher venues to go into and succeed let alone cover. That wasn’t the case last season when the Badgers managed to cover just three of their seven home games and lost outright twice. With only a home game against Georgia State on deck, I fully expect Wiscy to be locked onto the Zips and looking to take care of business. If they’re able to shut their ground attack down, they’ll win this going away.
College Football Odds: Wisconsin 45, Akron 10
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