[3:35 PM] Illinois @ #7 Wisconsin

What will be the GAME RESULT?

#7 Wisconsin: Wins By 25+ Points

Any Other Result

 

Current odds:

Illinois Fighting Illini (+24.5): (TBD)

Wisconsin Badgers (-24.5): (TBD)

 

• ESPN simulations have Illinois as XX% favorites to cover the spread.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Wisconsin to win as (TBD) favorites.

• The line for this game is Wisconsin by 24.5 points.

• Displeasure with perceived racial inequalities on campus could create a distraction when No. 7 Wisconsin hosts Illinois in a Big Ten game Saturday afternoon. The issue came to light after a fan in the Badgers’ stands wore a President Obama mask with a noose around his neck Oct. 29 against Nebraska, prompting a number of Wisconsin football players and other athletes to demand the school address the overall racial climate at the school.

• The Fighting Illini haven’t won back-to-back conference games since the final two of 2014, but are in position after knocking off Michigan State last week, 31-27, getting a career-high 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns from running back Kendrick Foster. The Badgers will present an immense challenge for the Illinois run game, as their run defense is tops in the Big Ten and No. 5 in the nation at 101.2 rushing yards surrendered per game. If the Fighting Illini choose to air it out against Wisconsin, they may have to do so without leading receiver Malik Turner, who missed Saturday’s game with a concussion.

• The Badgers could be shorthanded on offense as well, as right tackle Jacob Maxwell and fullback Austin Ramesh remain questionable with right shoulder injuries. On the defensive side, nose guard Olive Sagapolu will miss his fourth straight game due to injury and that side of the ball was already banged up after starting inside linebackers Chris Orr and Jack Cichy were lost for the season because of injuries. T.J. Edwards, Ryan Connelly and Leon Jacobs have stepped in and kept the defense humming along.

• Wisconsin has won six straight against the Illini, the longest winning streak by either team in series history.

• The Badgers rank third in the FBS in points allowed (13.8), a year after they finished No. 1 in that category at 13.7.

• The three Illinois quarterbacks have been intercepted a combined three times, which ranks fourth in the FBS and tied for first in the Big Ten.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Wisconsin: Wins by 25+ Points 

Confidence: 5/10

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