Wisconsin will enter Saturday’s matchup against the No. 1-ranked Oregon Ducks as sizable underdogs.
Aside from the Las Vegas spread, every metric system projects a big gap between the two teams — and understandably so. Oregon is 10-0 on the season, 7-0 in Big Ten play and has won each of its last four games by at least 21 points. Wisconsin, meanwhile, is 5-4 on the season and recently allowed 329 rushing yards in a blowout loss to Iowa.
Related: Updated game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin football entering big game vs. No. 1 Oregon
ESPN SP+ is one of those metrics. Wisconsin exits its bye week ranked No. 44 overall (No. 86 offense, No. 22 defense) with an overall rating of 5.9. Oregon is up at No. 3 overall (No. 2 offense, No. 10 defense) with a rating of 27.4.
Ignoring factors like home-field advantage, SP+ sees the Ducks as 21.5 points better than the Badgers at this stage of the season.
SP+ RANKINGS AFTER 11 WEEKS (after maybe its best week of the season):
* Tulane: 📈📈📈
* FSU, Florida and Washington: 📉📉📉
* NO. 4 SEED SMU
* The Résumé SP+ top 15, once again led by your mighty, indomitable Indiana Hoosiershttps://t.co/MnZsUntkJO— Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) November 10, 2024
Wisconsin enters the matchup after consecutive the losses, including the mentioned blowout at Iowa. The team sits one win short of bowl eligibility. It could clinch a postseason berth and then some with an upset win over the Ducks.
The matchup is Wisconsin’s first home game against a No. 1-ranked team in the AP Poll since it famously defeated then-No. 1 Ohio State in 2010. Luke Fickell and company will look to repeat that well-known performance.
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