Nebraska at Wisconsin (5 pm – ABC) 
CRIS Opening Line: Wisconsin -8 O/U 57.5 
CRIS Current Line: Wisconsin -10 O/U 57 
Rob Veno Power Rating: Wisconsin -11 
Teddy Covers Power Rating: Wisconsin -11.5

Marty Otto's Betting Take: Huge showdown in the Big Ten with division favorites Nebraska and Wisconsin tested for the first time this season. The Badgers have won and covered pointspreads with relative ease thus far. New addition Russell Wilson has played some brilliant football, averaging over 12 yards per pass while completing 76% of his attempts. He’s already thrown 11 touchdown passes to just one interception. And let’s not forget that the Badgers are a rushing team at heart! With Montee Ball and James White this looks to be a dynamic offense capable of pounding you on the ground or striking quickly through the air.

Nebraska has been accused of sleepwalking through its first four games. They’ve hinted however that a vanilla defense was much of the reason for the mediocre play. For bettors, asking them to just “flip the switch” can be a scary proposition. They say they can do it, but I’ll have to see it first.

The one thing the Cornhuskers do have going for them is that their offensive scheme has a history of success against this Badgers defense. Michigan’s scheme with Denard Robinson under center has a lot of similarities to what NU runs with Taylor Martinez. Last year the Wolverines racked up well over 250 yards rushing according to our ACCU-Stats on more than 7.0 yards per carry; easily the worst defense performance of the season for UW. That game also featured a boatload of points with 76.

I was hoping to see a more Big Ten, three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust type total but that clearly isn’t the case with a current number of 56.5/57. As such I’ve softened my stance on this one getting up and over but still feel that is the preferred play.