Northwestern has lost its last three and lost by more than 25 at Michigan and home against Minnesota. Nebraska put up 56 on the Wildcats and MSU beat them by 17 in the opener. Wisconsin has finally arrived to the 2021 season and has won five straight (4-1 ATS). The Badgers are dominating teams that are not in the upper echelon of the Big Ten. They have the No. 1 defense in the nation. Wisconsin gets the cover.

Now that Wisconsin has gotten through the difficult portion of its schedule it's back in its classic bumslaying mode. It suffocated Illinois with a pillow and stampeded past Rutgers last week. Now they face a Northwestern defense that hasn't stopped anybody. Wisconsin might hit the over on its own.

With a minuscule total of 41, Northwestern need not score many points to cover. Last Saturday, a dozen was sufficient in a 17-12 loss to Iowa. Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst has a losing record to one peer in the Big Ten West - Pat Fitzgerald. The Wildcats have covered in the last four meetings and upset the then-No. 10 Badgers 17-7 a year ago. Wisconsin’s biggest edge — a strong ground game versus a pushover run defense — could be compromised if top rusher Chez Mellusi (knee) sits out.