Michigan State vs Wisconsin Prediction: Are the Badgers Good at College Football Now?
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Just when it seemed like Wisconsin (3-1) wasn’t quite good enough and the Jason Eck watch – the New Mexico head coach who went to UW – was about to be on, Colton Joseph and the Badger offense rallied back from 17 points down at Penn State to pull off a thrilling win.
That was good, but now Wisconsin has to prove it really is that good with a win over a plucky Michigan State (2-2) team that lost its last two games to Notre Dame and Nebraska by three scores each. Win this, and the Pat Fitzgerald era will get a huge boost.
Michigan State vs Wisconsin: Quick Hits
- The two programs haven’t met since a 34-28 Spartan win in 2022. The Badgers beat the Spartans in the 2011 Big Ten Championship.
- Wisconsin has a nasty run coming after a week off, going to UCLA, hosting USC, and then traveling to Iowa.
- Michigan State gets two dates in a row in East Lansing after this against Illinois and Northwestern.
How To Watch Michigan State vs Wisconsin
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Game Time: 12:30 PM ET
TV: BTN
Location: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI
– Week 5 Schedule & Predictions
– CFN Top 25 | Bowl Projections
– Predictions For Every Remaining Game
– CFN Expert Picks: Week 5
Why Michigan State Will Win
Wisconsin was down big before the comeback against Penn State. For all the excitement and fun, there’s still a “prove it” factor with the Badgers – the other wins over Western Illinois and Eastern Michigan aren’t any big whoop.
Michigan State started to lose it against Notre Dame and Nebraska with turnovers, giving it away five times over the last two games. However, it’s among the best in the country in fewest penalties, and if it can limit the giveaways, this is a tough enough team to hang around.
Why Wisconsin Will Win
The Spartans still can’t seem to find any sort of downfield passing game, and now they’re without star running back Cam Edwards, who’s out for the season with a knee injury.
The offensive line couldn’t generate any sort of a push over the last two weeks, averaging just 1.4 yards per carry against the Irish and Huskers. Wisconsin hasn’t quite found its own ground attack yet, but Joseph and the passing game have started to generate enough big moments to overcome the inconsistency.
Michigan State vs Wisconsin Prediction, Betting Lines
So is Wisconsin good at college football now? Ehhhhhhhhh, it’s getting better – there’s enough offense to go along with a solid defense.
Michigan State will be good enough defensively to keep this from getting out of hand, but it’s all about the turnovers. Those will be relatively even, but for the third straight game, the Spartans will start to hit a bit of a wall late.
Wisconsin 26, Michigan State 16
Latest Consensus Line: Wisconsin -9.5, o/u: 43.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 2
Must See Rating (out of 5): 3
Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos