Last Updated on September 5, 2010 12:00 am by drew
Wisconsin 20-Point Road Favorites
No. 12 Wisconsin kicks its season off on the west coast as the Badgers take on UNLV Saturday night at 11PM ET.
Wisconsin has won its last nine non-conference road games, including two in Las Vegas. The Badgers are 6-2 against UNLV all-time, with the last meeting a 20-13 win on the road in 2007.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com currently list Wisconsin as 20-point favorites on the road at UNLV. The over/under total is set at 55.
Wisconsin is coming off a 10-3 season in 2009, the second 10-plus win season for coach Bret Bielema. This year, the badgers return 18 starters, including 10 on offense. Wisconsin averaged 31.9 points and 417 yards per-game last season and has back its leading passer, rusher, and receiver. John Clay was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,517 yards and 18 touchdowns and quarterback Scott Tolzien had 2,705 yards passing with 16 touchdowns. On defense, Wisconsin allowed 21.8 points and 306 yards per-game, but the Badgers lose three starters on the defensive line.
UNLV is coming off back-to-back 5-7 seasons and has brought in a new coach in Bobby Hauck. The Rebels have 15 starters back, including eight on offense. UNLV has its four leading rushers returning and its quarterback back, but the group will have to improve as it averaged just 24.8 points per-game in 2009. On defense, the Rebels got torched for 32.4 points and 456 yards per-game last season, but four starters are back on the front seven to help improve a rush defense that allowed 221 yards per-game.
College Football Week 1 Betting Trends
Wisconsin is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Wisconsin is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing UNLV
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Wisconsin’s last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Wisconsin’s last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of UNLV’s last 6 games
UNLV is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of UNLV’s last 6 games at home
UNLV is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
Week 1 College Football Injury Report
WISCONSIN
QB Curt Phillips Out Indefinitely (knee)
LB Mike Taylor Out Week 1 (knee)
UNLV
RB Imari Thompson Out Indefinitely (ankle)
QB Mike Clausen Questionable Week 1 (ankle)
Wisconsin Badgers -20 Over 55
UNLV Rebels +20 Under 55
Line Movement:
Date/Time Odds (Line) Over/Under (Total)
08/04/10 10:40:06 PM 18/-110 (Open) OFF
08/06/10 12:15:04 AM 18/-105 OFF
08/06/10 1:40:03 AM 19.5/-105 OFF
08/07/10 12:10:04 AM 19.5/-110 OFF
08/13/10 12:20:05 AM 19.5/-105 OFF
08/13/10 11:10:09 PM 20/-105 OFF
08/14/10 12:10:08 AM 20/-110 OFF
08/17/10 4:40:05 PM 20/-110 55.5 -110 (Open)
08/20/10 12:10:07 AM 20/-105 55.5 -110
08/21/10 12:10:07 AM 20/-110 55.5 -110
08/23/10 9:25:01 AM 20/-110 56 -110
08/25/10 6:30:05 PM 20.5/-110 56 -110
08/26/10 9:00:05 AM 21/-110 56 -110
08/26/10 1:15:05 PM 20.5/-110 56 -110
08/27/10 12:05:07 AM 20.5/-105 56 -110
08/28/10 12:05:10 AM 20.5/-110 56 -110
08/29/10 11:55:03 AM 20.5/-110 57.5 -110
09/03/10 12:15:10 AM 20.5/-105 57.5 -110
09/03/10 12:35:11 PM 20/-105 57.5 -110
09/03/10 4:30:04 PM 20/-105 56.5 -110
09/03/10 7:20:06 PM 20/-105 55 -110
09/03/10 7:50:06 PM 20/-105 54 -110
09/04/10 12:05:06 AM 20/-110 54 -110
09/04/10 10:40:04 AM 20/-110 54.5 -110