Wisconsin Badgers vs. Purdue Boilermakers Prediction, Pick and Preview, October 23 (10/23): NCAAF

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Purdue Boilermakers Prediction, Pick and Preview, October 23 (10/23): NCAAF

Credit: photo by Brian Holgren-USA TODAY Sports

 

Odds

 

Time 3:30 p.m. EST
Badgers money line -160
Badgers spread -3.5 (-110)
Boilermakers money line +130
Boilermakers spread +3.5 (-110)
Over / under 61.5

 

Preview

 

The Purdue Boilermakers will host the Wisconsin Badgers for a midseason Big Ten battle. Wisconsin managed to escape an upset last weekend from Army, while Purdue went into Iowa and gave the Hawkeyes their first loss of the season.

Wisconsin was able to get back in the win column after having one of the tougher schedules in the nation to start the season. The Badgers uncharacteristically enter this one 2-3, with a good chance of getting back to .500. After a pair of tough losses to Notre Dame and Michigan, Wisconsin shut out Illinois on the road to earn their first Big Ten win of the season

Purdue have little made their money from these underdog spots and they're heading into another one at home this weekend. Last weekend's win as 15-point underdogs was profitable and season-altering.

 

Offensive matchup
Wisconsin (3-3, 1-1)

The Badgers have taken their annual approach to the passing game, keeping things as conservative as possible with Graham Mertz behind center.

The sophomore quarterback doesn't have much free reign in Wisconsin's run-heavy attack, but he managed to lead the team to a win over Army last weekend with 112 passing yards and two rushing scores.

Chez Mellusi and Brandon Allen have been strong out of the backfield, and they've starred in the last two weeks. Mellusi ranks in the top-8 in the Big Ten in both yards (543) and ypg (90.5), while Allen has rushed for 100 yards and a score in each of the past two weeks.

Leading receiver Danny Davis III returned to the lineup last week, and caught a clutch 36-yard pass late in the fourth quarter to help hold off an Army comeback. He's caught 18 passes for 241 receiving yards this season.

Purdue (4-2, 2-1)

Aidan O'Connell's return to the lineup has lifted the Boilermaker offense. A week after throwing for 371 yards in a loss to Minnesota, the redshirt senior quarterback went 30-40 for a career-high 375 passing yards with two touchdowns to no interceptions on the road against Iowa.

It's safe to say Purdue still misses bowling ball back Zander Horvath out of the backfield, but King Doerue has done a solid job in his place. The junior back ran for 95 yards and caught six passes against Minnesota, and he leads the team with 269 rushing yards.

David Bell is who makes this offense go. The junior receiver has stepped into Rondale Moore's role, and the Boilermakers haven't missed a beat. The junior receiver caught eleven passes for a career-high 240 receiving yards, including a 60-yard touchdown in the upset win over Iowa.

Prediction

Purdue enters in a nice spot here. After defeating Iowa on the road, they have a chance to bless bettors again here at home. Wisconsin isn't built to play from behind, and with David Bell surpassing 100 yards four times already this season, they could over matched on the offensive end here. Take Purdue's ML

PICK: Purdue Boilermakers ML (+130)

 

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