A traditional Big Ten matchup with plenty of implications takes place this Saturday in Madison when the Penn State Nittany Lions (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) take on the Wisconsin Badgers (5-2, 3-1).
Penn State remains among the eight teams still unbeaten in college football and is looking to secure a road victory ahead of its showdown with Ohio State next week.
Meanwhile, the Badgers are looking to continue to build momentum after rattling off three straight conference wins in dominant fashion.
Penn State enters this conference clash as a -6.5 favorite with an over/under of 47.5.
Check out my Penn State vs. Wisconsin predictions and college football picks for Saturday, Oct. 26 below.
Penn State at Wisconsin Odds
| Penn State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -115 | 47.5 -115o / -105u | -250 |
| Wisconsin Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -105 | 47.5 -115o / -105u | +202 |
- Penn State vs Wisconsin Spread: Penn State -6.5
- Penn State vs Wisconsin Over/Under: 47.5 Points
- Penn State vs Wisconsin Moneyline: Penn State -250 · Wisconsin +202
Penn State at Wisconsin Predictions and Picks
- Penn State vs Wisconsin Pick: Wisconsin +6.5
Spread
I'm betting Wisconsin to cover the spread at home, as Penn State is in a tough spot with Ohio State on deck next week. Give me Wisconsin +6.5.
Over/Under
I'm going to pass on betting the over/under.
Moneyline
While I'm taking Wisconsin to cover the spread, I don't see value on the Badgers to win outright, so I'll pass on betting them on the moneyline.
Pick
My Wisconsin vs. Penn State best bet is on the Badgers to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at FanDuel, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Penn State at Wisconsin Preview
Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Preview: A Test Before the Big One
Very few teams have been as methodical as the Nittany Lions have been throughout the season.
PSU enters this matchup ranking inside the top 20 in a litany of different statistical categories on both sides of the ball, including: Offensive and Defensive Rush Success, Offensive and Defensive Line Yards, Havoc and Havoc Allowed, and Offensive Pass Success and Finishing Drives.
It has been a balanced attack on offense and defense, which has led to a 6-0 start where the only game that Penn State was really tested was at USC.
Saturday could be a step up in weight class, however, going into a raucous environment against a physical Wisconsin team.
Quarterback Drew Allar has taken a major step forward in his junior year, completing over 70% of his passes and taking good care of the football.
I still have some concerns about the weapons on the perimeter for PSU, as it doesn't have many speedsters who can take the top off the defense.
Over the middle of the field, tight end Tyler Warren has been an absolute beast, which was no more clear than last time out against the Trojans where he caught 17 passes.
Former Indiana head coach Tom Allen has taken over the reins of the defense, and the results have been promising thus far.
It has been nearly impossible to run the ball at all on the Nittany Lions, which has put a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Look for Allen to dial up some pressure to try to make Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke uncomfortable.
James Franklin is probably sick of the narrative that he can't win the big game, but he had better make sure his team is ready to go for this one before the big one at home next week.
Wisconsin Badgers Betting Preview: Jumping Around
Wisconsin brought in Miami transfer quarterback Tyler Van Dyke in the offseason only to lose him to an ACL injury in Week 3.
The aforementioned Locke has stepped in, and after a rocky first couple of quarters of action, he's showing some positive signs. Locke has already thrown for more yards than he did last season, and his deep ball has looked much more promising.
The concerning part is the fact that Locke continues to be turnover-prone. He has tossed at least one interception in each of his four starts.
In a matchup Saturday where the Badgers are rightfully the underdog, he can ill-afford to turn it over to an opportunistic PSU offense.
Defensively, to the surprise of very few, this is a typical Wisconsin and Luke Fickell defense.
The Badgers have surrendered just 16 points in their last three Big Ten games, and the secondary has been performing at an elite level.
I suspect Fickell will force Allar and PSU to methodically move the ball down the field, taking away the big play and keeping everything in front of them.
If the Badgers can be stout in the red zone and hold the Nittany Lions to field-goal attempts, they have a formula to hang around in this one.
Wisconsin vs Penn State Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Wisconsin and Penn State match up statistically:
Penn State Offense vs. Wisconsin Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 14 | 55 | |
| Line Yards | 16 | 103 | |
| Pass Success | 2 | 29 | |
| Havoc | 6 | 79 | |
| Finishing Drives | 10 | 83 | |
| Quality Drives | 9 | 14 | |
Wisconsin Offense vs. Penn State Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 23 | 3 | |
| Line Yards | 39 | 3 | |
| Pass Success | 55 | 46 | |
| Havoc | 29 | 4 | |
| Finishing Drives | 40 | 42 |  |
| Quality Drives | 84 | 21 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 19 | 11 |
| PFF Coverage | 19 | 9 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 76 | 87 |
| Middle 8 | 11 | 90 |
| Seconds per Play | 28.7 (102) | 27.2 (66) |
| Rush Rate | 60% (22) | 58% (30) |
Penn State vs Wisconsin Pick & Prediction
I love this spot for the Badgers, and I'm a believer in the recent strides they've made — even if it has come against lesser competition.
Penn State naturally has to have its eyes somewhat looking ahead to the OSU showdown next week, and Camp Randall will be rocking as it always is for big games.
Don't think Fickell hasn't reminded his team that it's lost the last five matchups against Penn State either.
The Badgers have the horses up front to go toe to toe with the Nittany Lions in the trenches, and neither offense will want to move particularly fast, resulting in fewer possessions.
I give the Badgers a real chance of pulling off the outright upset, so I'll gladly back them as a home 'dog here and would also endorse a small wager on the moneyline.
On Wisconsin!
Pick: Wisconsin +6.5 (Play to +6)
Penn State vs Wisconsin Start Time, TV Channel, How to Watch
| Location: | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI |
| Date: | Saturday, Oct. 26 |
| Kickoff Time: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | NBC |
Penn State takes on Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
Penn State vs Wisconsin Betting Trends
- 81% of bets and 93% of the money are on Penn State to cover the spread
- 96% of bets and 99% of the money are on the over
Betting trends via our live, updating NCAAF public betting & money percentages page.
Penn State vs Wisconsin Weather
