Per the best legal sports betting sites, Wisconsin are massive, 35-point road faves against New Mexico. Whoa. Slow down there, maestro. There’s a new Mexico? There may not be one after the Badgers are through with the Lobos. UW blew out Western Kentucky 34-3 but failed to cover the 36-point spread. That was Wisconsin’s 11th straight home win. Meanwhile, UNM also did not cover a 36-point spread, even though they scored 62 points against Incarnate Word. Problem was, the Lobos allowed 30 points – for the fourth straight time. And more troubling, they allowed a whopping 566 yards of total offense.
Betting New Mexico
Sophomore QB Tevaka Tuioti completed 13 of 21 attempts for 327 yards and four touchdowns in the season opener. He also had 54 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. And speaking of rushing, running back Zahneer Shuler recorded 90 yards on five carries. Of course, those achievements were almost rendered moot by the shoddy defense. New Mexico’s secondary allowed runs of 90 and 58 yards and 328 passing yards. Defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove better be burning the midnight oil addressing the defense’s issues. And head coach Bob Davie better like the taste of crow.
“It’s easy to sit here in [the summer] and make strong statements, but I do honestly believe this is going to be the best defensive team we’ve had since we’ve been here,” he said in early August. “It’s time. We have continuity with the coaches. We have a lot of returning players. We have some guys that can cover, which now in college football you have to have coverage guys. I do think it can be the best defensive team we’ve had here, and I’ll be disappointed if it isn’t.” Let’s just hope he handles disappointment well. Especially when the Badgers live up to their best sports betting sites odds.
Betting Wisconsin
Starting QB Alex Hornibrook completed 17 of 29 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns in the season-opening game. Running back Jonathan Taylor posted 145 yards and two scores on 18 carries. Tight end Zander Neuville has been cleared to play New Mexico. However, he is listed as questionable. Neuville tore his ACL in November, and if he plays, it would be in a limited capacity. Still, his blocking could improve the Badgers’ ground attack running game. Neuville could also make up for tight end Luke Benzschawel’s absence. Benzschawel will be out for at least the next couple of games.
Wisconsin’s defense held Western Kentucky to just 181 passing yards. The Badgers have not allowed more than 17 points to a non-Big Ten opponent in the regular season since a 35-17 loss to Alabama in 2015. Head coach Paul Chryst’s record is 35-7 in four years. It will be 36-7 according to the best sports betting sites.
New Mexico Lobos at Wisconsin Badgers NCAA Football Betting Week 2
- Date: September 8
- Time: 10:00 am MT
- Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI
Lines from MyBookie.ag:
- New Mexico +34½ (-110) 59½ (-110) +8500
- Wisconsin -34½ (-110) 59½ (-110) -23000
Betting Trends
- New Mexico is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
- New Mexico is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games
- New Mexico is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- Wisconsin is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
- Wisconsin is 15-1 SU in its last 16 games
- The total has gone under in 4 of Wisconsin’s last 5 games
Our Prediction: That Wisconsin is going to win by a wide margin is almost a foregone conclusion. On the other hand, the Badgers have not covered in five of their last six games when the best online sportsbooks favor them by at least 30 points. UW can’t seem to be able to cover large figures. And 35 points is a rather large figure.
