The Wisconsin Badgers are 13.5-point road favorites over the South Florida Bulls, as the sportsbook sites’ spread goes for the NCAA Football game at 7:00 pm ET on August 30th at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL.
Wisconsin Badgers vs. South Florida Bulls Betting Odds by MyBookie.ag
Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wisconsin | -13½ (-110) | 57½ (-110) | -525 | |
South Florida | +13½ (-110) | 57½ (-110) | +415 | |
Betting Wisconsin Badgers
The 2018 Badgers went at 8-5, SU, 5-4 in Big Ten play, and 4-9 ATS per the best online sportsbooks. Wisconsin was invited to the Pinstripe Bowl to play Miami. According to sportsbook sites, UW entered that game as 2.5-point underdogs, and won 35-3. Sophomore running back Jonathan Taylor led the NCAA in both rushing yards (2,194) and rushing attempts (307). As a result, he was awarded the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back.
Taylor was named a consensus first-team All-American, and so was offensive lineman Beau Benzschawel. Three other members of the offensive line received first-team all-conference honors; Tyler ‘Badass’ Biadasz, Michael Deiter, and David Edwards. Quarterback Alex Hornibrook passed for 1,532 yards and 13 touchdowns. Hornibrook has since transferred to Florida State and only Biadasz is returning to the offensive line. Taylor is also returning for his junior year. Thanks to him, the Badgers ranked No. 6 in rushing yards per game (273.4).
The QB starting spot is going to come down to Jack ‘Ice Cream’ Coan and Graham Mertz. Coan has five games under his belt, including a start in the aforementioned Pinstripe Bowl. He’s by no means battle-tested, though it’s a lot more experience than Mertz has. “Mertz, a top QB prospect who had offers from Alabama, Clemson and Georgia, or Jack Coan, who played in five games for UW last year, including a start in the Pinstripe Bowl blowout over Miami,” says Sports Illustrated. “Mertz might have a leg up in this one, despite his youth. He was the 2018 Gatorade Player of the Year in Kansas and passed for 3,886 yards and 51 touchdowns as a high school senior.”
Betting South Florida Bulls
The Bulls finished the season 7-6 SU, 3-5 in AAC play, and 4-9 against the sportsbook sites’ spread. USF was invited to the Gasparilla Bowl where they lost to Marshall 20-38 as three-point dogs. South Florida became the first team in college football history to start 7-0 and then lose their remaining six games. The Bulls went from scoring 35.5 points in their first seven games to just 20.1 in their last six. Consequently, former offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert was exiled to the Southland Conference; damned to coach the McNeese State Cowboys. Newsflash: McNese ain’t no state I ever heard of. They speak English in McNeese?
In January 2019, Kerwin Bell was hired to be the offensive coordinator for the Bulls of the University of South Florida. Bell last plied his trade as OC for the Toronto Argonauts in 2001. He then head coached Trinity Catholic High School, Jacksonville University, Valdosta State University. Now I’m sorry about what I said earlier about Mr. Gilbert. Meanwhile, head coach Charlie Strong just bought a $3.2 million house in South Tampa. I also like to go shopping when I’m down.
Wisconsin Badgers vs. South Florida Bulls Prediction
Seriously? Wisconsin all the way. It really doesn’t even matter who starts under center. As long as Jonathan Taylor he’s going to get the ball, one way or another. As this guy points out, “running backs coach John Settle noted the Badgers will look to reduce the number of Taylor’s rush attempts but increase his involvement in the passing game.” Which comes to show that it doesn’t take a genius to see the writing on the wall. All things considered, and barring any unforeseen event, take the Badgers and the points.