The Big Ten and the Pac-12 face off in the 2021 Las Vegas Bowl on Thursday evening. The Wisconsin Badgers represent the Big Ten, with the Arizona State Sun Devils carrying the banner for the Pac-12. Both teams are 8-4 this season with 6-3 records in conference play. Wisconsin has won seven of the last eight games, with Arizona State winning three of the last four contests.
Caesars Sportsbook lists the Badgers as seven-point favorites in Las Vegas for this 10:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over-under, is 42 in the latest Wisconsin vs. Arizona State odds. Before making any Arizona State vs. Wisconsin picks or Las Vegas Bowl 2021 predictions, you need to see what SportsLine’s advanced computer model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,600 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters the third week of the 2021-22 college football bowl season on a 43-30 run on all top-rated college football side picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Wisconsin vs. Arizona State and locked in its Las Vegas Bowl 2021 picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several college football odds and betting lines for Arizona State vs. Wisconsin:
- Wisconsin vs. Arizona State spread: Wisconsin -7
- Wisconsin vs. Arizona State over-under: 42 points
- Wisconsin vs. Arizona State money line: Wisconsin -290, Arizona State +235
- WISC: The Badgers are 4-2 against the spread in their last six games
- ASU: The Sun Devils are 5-4 against the spread in their last nine games
Featured Game | Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Wisconsin Badgers
Why Wisconsin can cover
Wisconsin boasted the best defense in the Big Ten this season, leading the conference in total defense, passing defense and rushing defense. The Badgers’ success is based on that defensive resistance, but Wisconsin is also potent on offense. The Badgers finished No. 2 in the Big Ten in rushing, averaging 215.4 yards per game on the ground, and Wisconsin generated nearly five yards per carry. The Badgers also ranked No. 3 in the conference with 25 rushing touchdowns, and Wisconsin allowed only 15 sacks in 12 games, second-fewest in the Big Ten.
Wisconsin has two exceptionally strong running backs in Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi, both of whom could be crucial in this matchup. The Badgers are keyed by Allen, who rushed for 1,109 yards and 12 touchdowns on 7.1 yards per carry. Mellusi added 815 yards and five touchdowns on 4.7 yards per carry, with Wisconsin set to deploy a ball-control style that exploits the team’s elite defensive infrastructure.
Why Arizona State can cover
Arizona State has an intriguing mix of offense and defense that bolsters the team’s success. The Sun Devils enjoyed success in a few key areas on offense, producing 5.3 yards per carry with 33 rushing touchdowns this season. Arizona State averaged 29.7 points per game, a top-five mark in the Pac-12, while leading the conference in completion percentage (66.8 percent) and yards per pass attempt (8.1). Arizona State threw only nine interceptions and allowed only 21 sacks through 12 games, and the Sun Devils were strongly above-average in third down conversion rate at 43.8 percent.
On defense, Arizona State was also excellent, ranking No. 2 in the Pac-12 in total defense and scoring defense with top-four marks in passing defense and rushing defense. Opponents averaged only 6.5 yards per pass attempt and 3.6 yards per rush attempt against Arizona State, with the Sun Devils producing more interceptions (15) than passing touchdowns allowed (12).
How to make Arizona State vs. Wisconsin picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the point total, projecting 40 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s Las Vegas Bowl picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Wisconsin vs. Arizona State? And which side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Wisconsin vs. Arizona State spread you need to jump on Thursday, all from the model that has crushed its college football picks, and find out.
