Western Michigan Broncos vs Wisconsin Badgers Betting Pick & Prediction 8/30/24

At 9:00 ET, Wisconsin will be hosting Western Michigan at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. The game is set for Friday, August 30th, and will be broadcast on FS1. This is the first game of the season for both teams. Wisconsin is the heavy favorite with a -23.5 point spread, and the over/under line is currently at 56.5 points.

WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS VS WISCONSIN BADGERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Western Michigan Broncos +23.5

This game will be played at Camp Randall Stadium at 9:00 ET on Friday, August 30th.

WHY BET THE WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS:

• We have the Wisconsin Badgers winning this one by a score of 38 to 23
• Even though we like the Wisconsin Badgers to win, our ATS pick is to take the Western Michigan Broncos at +23.5
• Look for this game to go over the line of 56.5 points

Will The Western Michigan Broncos Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs

Western Michigan enters the season ranked 119th in our pre-season power rankings, with a 52.2% chance of being bowl-eligible. Our projections also give them a 6.7% chance of winning the Mid-American Conference.

Last season, the Broncos finished with a 4-8 overall record. They were 3-2 at home and 1-6 on the road, and they were favored in four games and went 0-4 in those. As underdogs, they were 4-4, including 3-0 as the home underdog. In the futures market, they are at +590 to win the Mid-American Conference, which gives them a 14% chance, and they have +275 odds to make it to the Conference title game, the 3rd best in the conference.

Western Michigan’s offense was led by quarterback Hayden Wolff last season, as he threw for 1,505 yards and eight touchdowns. The Broncos ranked 77th in the country in scoring, averaging 23.7 points per game. Wolff finished the season with a passer rating of 87 and a completion percentage of 65.5%, but he also threw 5 interceptions.

In the running game, Jalen Buckley rushed for 1,003 yards and 10 touchdowns, helping the Broncos rank 75th in rush yards per game (154.5). Western Michigan’s passing game averaged 211.2 yards per game, which placed them 88th in the nation. Overall, the Broncos struggled on third down, converting just 35.8% of their opportunities (95th).

Western Michigan’s defense had a tough time stopping the run last season, allowing 159.8 rushing yards per game, which ranked 105th in the nation. Overall, they gave up 31.8 points per game, placing them 74th in the country. Their pass defense was also a weakness, ranking 113th in passing yards allowed per game. Opposing quarterbacks completed 60.2% of their passes and had a combined passer rating of 93.7 against the Broncos (112th).

Are The Wisconsin Badgers Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?

Wisconsin is ranked 39th in our pre-season power rankings, with a 57.4% chance of being bowl-eligible. However, their odds of winning the Big Ten are slim, at just 0.5%. In the futures market, the Badgers are listed at +6000 to win the Big Ten, placing them 8th out of the 18 teams in the conference.

Last season, Wisconsin finished with a 7-6 overall record, being the underdog in just two of their 12 games, both of which they lost. They had a 6-4 record as the favorite and went 3-3 both at home and on the road. This season, they have a 57.4% chance of being bowl-eligible based on our pre-season rankings.

Wisconsin’s passing game was led by Braedyn Locke last season, who threw for 778 yards and five touchdowns. The Badgers also brought in Tyler Van Dyke, who transferred from Miami after throwing for 2703 yards and 19 touchdowns. Wisconsin ranked 67th in passing yards per game and 60th in rushing yards per game last season. Overall, the Badgers averaged 23.5 points per game, which ranked 68th in the country.

On the ground, Jackson Acker is the top returning running back for the Badgers, and they also added Tawee Walker from Oklahoma, who ran for 513 yards last season. Wisconsin was 26th in third-down conversion percentage, converting on 44.2% of their third down chances.

Wisconsin’s defense was effective at limiting big plays last season, allowing just 6.4 yards per pass attempt, which ranked 22nd nationally. Overall, they allowed 20.2 points per game, placing them 17th in the country. However, the Badgers were more average in terms of yardage, ranking 61st in passing yards allowed and 63rd in rushing yards allowed. Opposing quarterbacks completed 61.6% of their passes against Wisconsin (99th).