Wisconsin vs Arizona State Betting Odds, Picks, and Predictions (12/30/21)
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SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: Wisconsin vs Arizona State
The University of Wisconsin Badgers get set to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils this Thursday at 10:30 PM ET in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bow at the new Allegiant Stadium in Vegas. The Badgers come into their 21st consecutive bowl appearance off a third place finish in the Big Ten West, while the Sun Devils come in off a second place finish in the PAC-12 South. The two teams have only played each other four times before with the Sun Devils leading the all-time series 3-1. The Badgers make history in this one, becoming the first Big Ten team to ever play in the SRS Distribution Bowl. Both teams enter Thursday with an 8-4 record, though the Badgers are favored by 6 points with a -235 moneyline. The over/under for this one is 41.5.
Wisconsin vs Arizona State Betting Odds
Wisconsin vs Arizona State Betting Trends
Badgers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 bowl games
Badgers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up loss
Badgers are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games as a favorite
Sun Devils are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on grass
Sun Devils are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 vs. Big Ten
Sun Devils are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 bowl games
Wisconsin Badgers Betting Odds
A good rushing offense is to Wisconsin Football as good gas mileage is to a Toyota Prius. Whether it be Montee Ball, Melvin Gordan, or Jonathan Taylor, running the football has always been a staple of the Badger offense and this year is no different. Averaging over 235 yards rushing a game, Wisconsin ranks second in the Big Ten and 14th in the NCAA in rushing offense. They are led by the dual threat of Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi — both of whom have over 800 yards on the season. Allen, a freshman and Wisconsin native, currently leads all of college football in yards per carry, averaging 7.06 yards a handoff.
The Badgers lead the Big Ten in overall defense, allowing only 240.8 yards a game — 44 yards better than the second place team in Minnesota. They rank number one in the conference in both passing and rushing offense, with the number one rushing offense in all of college football.
The best team the Badgers played this year was the Michigan Wolverines on October 2nd, a game they lost 38-17.
Arizona State Sun Devils Betting Odds
Returning from a COVID-19 year that saw the Sun Devils only play 4 games and not make a bowl appearance for the first time since 2016, ASU went 8-4 in 2021, achieving the team’s best record since 2014 and the best of Head Coach Herm Edwards’ tenure. Led by their defense that ranks second in the Pac-12 in both yards and points allowed per game, this Arizona State team has fully personified the coaching identity of Edwards — who rose through the ranks of the NFL as a defensive backs coach.
The Sun Devils rank sixth in the Pac-12 in overall offense, averaging 402.1 yards a game behind their fourth place rushing attack. The Sun Devils have one of the more dynamic quarterbacks in college football in Jayden Daniels who has rushed for 670 yards and 6 touchdowns on the season. Running back Rachaad White leads all rushers with 1,006 yards this season on 5.5 yards a carry.
Arizona State is 3-2 in their last five games. The best team they’ve faced all season is the Utah Utes on October 16th, a game they lost 35-21.
Wisconsin vs Arizona State Picks & Prediction
Arizona State and Wisconsin play a very similar brand of football. Both teams like to run the ball and defend the run. What differentiates them, however, is the gap between Arizona State’s good defense and Wisconsin’s great defense. Only Oklahoma State and Georgia allow fewer yards a game than Wisconsin and no one is better against the run than the Badgers. Arizona State needs to run the ball to remain viable and they’re really going to struggle against a team that gives up less than 2.2 yards a rush. Wisconsin has the advantage at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and I like them to have better success moving the ball than the Sun Devils. Admittedly, a 6 point spread on a game with a 41.5 point over/under seems fishy and, for that reason, I’d bet Wisconsin on the ML and stay away from the spread or bet Arizona so long as the line stays at 6 or more.
My Pick: Wisconsin wins 17-13, ASU covers (+6) and the under hits (u41.5)
