NCAA Football
2021-12-30 - Wisconsin Badgers at Arizona State Sun Devils
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : College Football Bowl Game
Thursday 30th December 2021 - Scheduled 10:30pm
3:30am (British Time)
Preview
A poor start put the Wisconsin Badgers (8-4) behind the black ball as to how far they could go this season, but they rallied and looked set to play in the Big Ten Championship Game. A disappointing defeat to the Minnesota Golden Gophers prevented that from happening, but the Badgers are looking to bounce back in this Bowl Game.
They are the favourites in this one against the Arizona State Sun Devils (8-4), but this is a team who has to be respected having secured another winning season under Head Coach Herm Edwards. Arizona State won the Bowl Game they played in 2019, but they came up short in the Pac-12 South Division this season, although there are some positives to take on board.
Jayden Daniels did not really play up to the level expected in 2021, but the Quarter Back has already decided he is going to return to the Sun Devils and that should mean 2022 could be a really big year for the team. However, this is a really challenging test for Daniels and the Sun Devils Offensive unit against a powerful Wisconsin Defense and even more so without the top two Running Backs.
It has been a key for the Sun Devils to establish the run and then open up the passing lanes, but Arizona State will struggle to do that here. Rachaad White and DeaMonte Trayanum are both absent and the Badgers Defensive Line is strong enough to contain the back up Running Backs and that should put a lot of pressure on Jayden Daniels.
Failing to establish the run will mean Jayden Daniels will have to deal with the Wisconsin pass rush, while he has to show more consistency throwing the ball. Jayden Daniels has thrown 10 Touchdown passes and 9 Interceptions and he has to be wary about testing this Badgers Secondary which has been very good at turning the ball over.
Like the Sun Devils, Wisconsin will be looking to run the ball and set up the entire playbook for the Offensive unit and I do think they could have a little more success than their opponent too. The Badgers Offensive Line have been very strong at the line of scrimmage, while the Arizona State Secondary are missing key players to open things up for Graham Mertz at Quarter Back.
He has not had to do too much with the way the Badgers have been able to pound the ball, but Graham Mertz could have success in this one against a weakened Arizona State Secondary. I think that will be the key for the Badgers in pulling away and covering a pretty big mark and I do like Wisconsin in this Bowl Game.
Wisconsin are usually well prepared for the post-season and have gone 5-2 against the spread in their last seven Bowl Games.
Herm Edwards has the enthusiasm to get the best out of his Arizona State team though and the Sun Devils have been a strong underdog with Edwards at Head Coach. However, they are 2-7 against the spread in their last nine against non-Conference opponents and I think the Sun Devils are short-handed in this one which should give this strong Wisconsin team an opportunity to find the big plays to cover the mark.
Prediction
Lay the points with the favourite.
The Pick :
Arizona State Sun Devils 17-27 Wisconsin Badgers
