College Football Betting: Wisconsin vs. UNLV Odds and Stats

Thursday, September 1

WISCONSIN over UNLV by 38

While the NCAA football betting season officially kicks off in Louisville at 6:00 ET with the Cardinals hosting Murray State in a non-lined affair, the ‘real’ season begins in Madison where Top 10-ranked Wisky plays host to the Rebels of UNLV.

We wouldn’t blame anyone for paying a bit more attention to the league (NFL) where they play for slightly more pay as it closes out its exhibition campaign tonight – especially with the punchless Rebs now 0-5 ATS in the fi rst of back-to-back away games (and picked to fi nish in the cellar of the new-look Mountain West Conference this season).

Bret Bielema’s boys topped the Rebels 41-21 in last year’s opener in Sin City

– not quite enough to get over the 20.5-point impost – but there should be no such problem tonight in Camp Randall as the Rebels played without a cause on the road all season long in 2010, being outscored 322-79 (0-7SU and ATS).

Wisconsin is -35½ point favorites against UNLV at Bodog sportsbook and the total is set at 56.

The generous UNLV stop unit has allowed 5.0 or more rushing yards in each of the last three seasons – not a good omen against this overland ogre. Our helpful database also reminds us that Johnny Reb is just 1-17 SU and 3-15 ATS the last 18 lined games in which they allowed more than 21 points.

With Russell Wilson looking to impress in his Wisconsin debut, that number should be reached by halftime. Bucky Badger may be an uninspiring 0-3 ATS in home-opening scrimmages since 2008, but we’re not ready to roll the dice with Bobby
Hauck’s bunch and neither should you. Lay it if you play it.