Badgers predictions: Game 2 vs. Akron

By Dave Heller
Published

Last week none of the national analysts found before our Thursday deadline picked Wisconsin to beat then-No. 5 LSU.

This week, the Badgers are No. 10 and at home against a MAC team which had a close game against an FCS team in Week 1 -- and, yes, I found someone who thinks Akron will win.

So to recap:

National analysts who thought Wisconsin would beat LSU: 0

National analysts who think Akron will beat Wisconsin: 1

Have at it.

Here's this week's picks from around the web and Twitter:

The Associated Press' Ralph D. Russo: No score, but picks Wisconsin in his list of "beatdowns" this week.

All three Big Ten Network analysts are picking Wisconsin to win. The scores: Tom Dienhart -- 27-13; Sean Merriman -- 28-7; Brent Yarina -- 31-13.

Pete Fiutak of Collegefootballnews.com: Wisconsin 41, Akron 13. "It'll be a tight first quarter, but the Badgers will quickly wear down the Zips the rest of the way with the defense putting the offense in good positions time after time. It’ll take three quarters to put this away."

All four Athlon Sports analysts have Wisconsin winning.

Jeff Barti of CampusInsiders.com: Wisconsin 28-7. "Houston leads an efficient Wisconsin offense and the Badgers defense is too much for Woodson to handle."

Bill Connelly of SB Nation: His S&P+ projection has it Wisconsin 36.1, Akron 17.8.

The Whatifsports.com simulation has an average score of Wisconsin 29.0, Akron 21.3 with the Badgers winning 76.2 percent of the time.

The Sports Xchange: Wisconsin 41, Akron 13.

Six of seven CBSSports.com analysts are picking Wisconsin to win. Yes, I said six of seven. Dennis Dodd, I'm looking at you. And, yes, that's straight up. Against the spread (24.5 points), all seven are taking Akron.

The Oklahoman's Berry Tramel: Wisconsin 28, Akron 10.

All seven analysts at USAToday.com pick Wisconsin to win.

Brian Pedersen of Bleacher Report: Wisconsin 38, Akron 14.

All five of the ESPN.com Big Ten contributors picked Wisconsin to win.

 

Dave Heller is the author of the upcoming book Ken Williams: A Slugger in Ruth's Shadow as well as Facing Ted Williams Players From the Golden Age of Baseball Recall the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived and As Good As It Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns>