The Wisconsin Badgers are heavy NCAA football betting favorites to beat the Georgia State Panthers Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Saturday, September 17th. Here are the odds for the benefit of people betting on college football:
Georgia State +34 (-110) 49½ (-110) +8000
Wisconsin -34 (-110) 49½ (-110) -21500
The Badgers opened their season with a bang when they defeated then-No. 5 LSU 16-14, and then they themselves moved up to the 9th spot on the AP Poll when they destroyed the Akron Zips 54-10 on September 10th. How lopsided was that game? Cory Clement played in just the first half and finished with 111 yards and two TDs. And QB Bart Houston threw 15 of 22 for 231 passing yards and another couple of touchdowns before being relieved by Alex Hornibrook. Additionally, Jazz Peavy had seven receptions for 100 yards and two TDs, while Rob Wheelwright caught the ball four times for 99 receiving yards. The only downside to a win like this one is that it may give the players – as well as NCAA football betting fans – a false sense of security. For example, Houston tossed a few bad passes – something that might come back to haunt him against a better team.
Not that team would be the Panthers, who are 0-2 after losing to the Air Force Falcons 14-48 on September 10th. Georgia State seemed poised to make up for its season opening loss, and in fact got on the scoreboard quickly, thanks to QB Conner Manning – not related to the Manning quarterbacking family. Unfortunately, they surrendered the initiative to Air Force. Actually, that’s not all they surrendered. The Panthers also gave up 464 yards on the ground, which is what happens when you let the other team rush 67 times. The O-line encountered much difficulty opening up gaps in the run game, and Georgia State couldn’t run the ball themselves when they had it – the Panthers were kept to 27 yards on 14 carries.
All of the above does not bode well for the Panthers’ NCAA football betting chances. “I can tell you right now they are going to come out and try to run the ball down our throat,” Georgia State head coach Trent Miles said of the Badgers’ offensive game plan in his radio show. They say knowledge is half the battle, but Miles knew as much about Air Force, and there was still precious little he could do about it. The Panthers are last in the nation in run defense and time of possession, and as hinted at above, they can’t run the ball if their lives depended on it. And try as Manning might, he’s no Nick ‘Jon’ Arbuckle, who threw for 4,368 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2015. Last season’s bowl appearance must seem like a dream by now, though. All things considered, the Badgers should not sweat the absence of LB Chris Orr and CB Natrell Jamerson on defense, and Houston, Clement, and Peavy on offense should be enough to strike the fear of the almighty in the souls of the Panthers’ players.
