LSU Tigers vs Wisconsin Badgers Point Spread Picks

Wisconsin was No. 19 in the country in scoring defense this season allowing only 18.9 points per game and now the Badgers get to face LSU, which will be playing without its star quarterback, Jayden Daniels, who opted out to prepare for the NFL draft. Redshirt sophomore Garrett Nussmeier will likely get the start for the Tigers, who led the country with 46.4 points per game with Daniels behind center, but they allowed 27.8. Nussmeier has attempted 33 passes for 915 yards and a touchdown this season. In three seasons at LSU, Nussmeier has thrown eight TD passes and six interceptions. Wisconsin finished the regular season on a high note winning its last two games against Nebraska and Minnesota. The Badgers will have their starting QB, Tanner Mordecai, and he has plenty of experience as his sixth-year transfer's eligibility will be up after this game. Mordecai missed some games due to an injury, but he threw for 1,687 yards and six TDs in nine games and the Badgers won six of them. Wisconsin has the better defense, a more experienced quarterback and the motivation to beat an SEC school. Take Wisconsin ATS as a Max Play and on the moneyline.

LSU returns nine defensive starters from a team that allowed only 24 points per game and #10 in the nation in total yards allowed. David Aranda has replaced Kevin Steele as defensive coordinator, but there shouldn't be a dropoff because Aranda came from Wisconsin, which had the second-leading total defense and top scoring defense last season. The entire secondary returns along with one of the top linebackers in the country in Kendall Beckwith.  Brandon Harris will start at QB for the Tigers, who will depend again on the running of Leonard Fournette, who says he has recovered from an ankle injury suffered a couple weeks ago in practice. Fifth-year senior Bart Houston will be the starting quarterback for Wisconsin after completing 27-of-47 for 281 yards in limited action last year. Houston was only two-of-four for 14 yards his two previous seasons as he played behind Joel Stave. The Badgers return six on defense, but the new starters have had extensive playing time. LSU went UNDER its last four regular season games and Wisconsin went UNDER eight of its last 11 games overall. Play the UNDER.

#14 Wisconsin and #13 LSU meet in a neutral site showdown at Houston's NRG Stadium. Wisconsin coach Gary Anderson has yet to name who the new starting QB in this game will be. That will be a concern against a powerhouse SEC defense such as LSU. While Wisconsin's defense was outstanding last year, only three starters return. And let's face it - the Big 10 plays second fiddle to the SEC. Les Miles also has a quarterback decision to make between sophomore Anthony Jennings and true freshman Brandon Harris, but there is more experience there than at Wisconsin. Harris guided LSU to wins over Arkansas and Iowa in relief of Zach Mettenberger to close 2013. Four of five starters return on the offensive line - one of the SEC's best. The Tigers' backfield added freshman RB Leonard Fournette, the nation’s #1 overall prospect. This LSU defense is stocked and is being compared to LSU’s best teams of the 2000s under Nick Saban. Les Miles has led the Tigers to a school-record four straight seasons with at least 10 wins and the Badgers have dropped four of their last five neutral-field games. Take the Tigers minus the points in this one.