Wisconsin Opens as -3.5 Home Favorite Against Michigan

*Odds taken 09/17/19

Tale of Two Different Teams

Wisconsin has yet to face tough competition through its first two games, but nobody expected the Badgers to be this dominant. Starting QB Jack Coan and All-American running back Jonathan Taylor are forming a lethal duo, while the defense currently ranks first overall in the Nation.

Coan has gone 45-of-59 for 562 yards and five touchdowns this season, while Taylor has now rushed for over 100 yards in 24 of his career 29 games. The Badgers defense has allowed just 215 total yards and 41 yards rushing,

This @zackbizzaun flex may be subtle but our defense is ???.

We're the nation's No. 1 defense after allowing just 107.5 yards per game, 77.5 fewer than ANY other team. pic.twitter.com/z7EANIvyEX

— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) September 12, 2019

Michigan has failed to live up to the preseason hype surrounding the team. The Wolverines are trying to adjust to a new-look spread offense under offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, but have struggled through two games. They beat Middle Tennessee 40-21 in Week 1, but barely escaped Army in Week 2, prevailing 24-21 in OT.

Both teams had a bye week in Week 3, but the Wolverines are likely to benefit more from it. Starting QB Shea Patterson isn’t believed to be 100 percent healthy, while top wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones and starting left tackle Jon Runyan Jr. are dealing with injuries. Peoples-Jones led the team in receptions and receiving touchdowns in 2018 and is questionable for Saturday.

Wolverines are Rare Underdog

While No.11 Michigan is ranked ahead of No.13 Wisconsin in the latest AP Poll, the Wolverines are being listed as an underdog for the first time in 17 games. They’ve lost 13 straight games as an underdog under Jim Harbaugh.

Without the added pressure of being the favorite and time to rest their injured players, could the Wolverines finally end their losing streak as the underdog?

According to https://t.co/ayyKRWSKHR – Michigan has lost 13 straight games when it is an underdog. It has dropped 19 of the last 20.

Wolverines are a 3-point underdog vs. Wisconsin on Saturday, per Vegas Insider.

— Dustin Schutte (@SchutteCFB) September 16, 2019

While the Wolverines are listed as underdogs, Wisconsin’s home field advantage still makes them the best bet. The Badgers won 24-10 the last time these two teams met in Madison in 2017 and they haven’t lost to Michigan at home since 2001. Taylor is currently listed in the Heisman trophy odds and has a history of performing against Michigan. The star RB rushed 19 times for 132 yards in 2017 and 17 times for 101 yards in 2018.

The Wolverines have already lost five fumbles through two games after losing three of them all of last season. They’ll have time to work on these issues in the bye week, but there are too many concerns with Michigan to make them worth a bet on the road against a ranked team.

Verdict on Michigan vs. Wisconsin Odds

The Wolverines are due to turn in a big performance soon, but they’ll be in tough against Wisconsin.

Michigan’s offense has looked inconsistent to date and the team is battling injuries. They also have an inexperienced run defense that could get exposed by Taylor.

A struggling Shea Patterson should benefit from the bye week, but this is a rock-solid Wisconsin team who has had its way with Michigan at home.

Beating the Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium is no easy task for anyone, and Michigan will come up short in Week 4 to extend their losing streak as underdogs.

Pick: Wisconsin (-170)