This matchup features two teams that won in their week 1 games as the Wisconsin Badgers travel to take on the Washington State Cougars in week 2 of the college football season. The Badgers won at home against the Buffalo Bulls by a score of 38-17 while the Cougars won on the road against the Colorado State Rams by a score of 50-24. Which team will improve to 2-0 on the season with a win in this matchup on Saturday night? 

Let’s take a deeper dive into how these teams are faring this season.

The Wisconsin Badgers enter this game ranked 19^th in the AP Poll and 19^th in the Coaches Poll with a record of 1-0 following their week 1 win at home against the Buffalo Bulls by a score of 38-17, however, the Badgers failed to cover the 29-point spread as a favorite at home. 

Wisconsin scored 38 points while compiling 507 total yards offensively which included 189 passing yards and 318 rushing yards while allowing 17 points and 316 total yards defensively which included 194 passing yards and 122 rushing yards. Tanner Mordecai led the team in passing, completing 24 of 31 attempts for 189 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. 

Chez Mellusi led the team in rushing with 13 carries for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Will Pauling led the team in receiving, catching all five targets for 55 yards.

Washington State enters this game following a 50-24 win on the road against the Colorado State Rams while covering the spread as an 8.5-point road favorite. The Cougars scored 50 points while compiling 569 total yards offensively which included 466 passing yards and 103 rushing yards while allowing 24 points and 345 total yards defensively which included 323 passing yards and 22 rushing yards. 

Cameron Ward led the team in passing, completing 37 of 49 attempts for 451 yards and three touchdowns while also leading the team in rushing with 13 attempts for 53 yards and one touchdown. Lincoln Victor led the team in receiving, catching 11 of 14 targets for 168 yards.

BookMaker has the Wisconsin Badgers listed as 5.5-point favorites on the road against the Washington State Cougars in week 2 of the college football season. The teams have split the last two games in the series while also going 1-1 ATS in those matchups with the most recent matchup coming last season which resulted in a 17-14 win for the Washington State Cougars on the road and a 17.5-point spread as an underdog. 

Wisconsin is 0-1 ATS overall and 0-1 ATS as a favorite this season after finishing last season with a record of 6-7 ATS overall, 1-4 ATS on the road, and 6-5 ATS as a favorite while the Washington State Cougars are 1-0 ATS overall this season after finishing last year with a record of 8-5 ATS overall, 5-2 ATS at home, and 3-4 ATS as an underdog.

Both teams started the season off with wins, however, this matchup will be a step up in competition. Wisconsin is the more talented team and should come away with the win in this matchup, however, I look for this to be a closer game than the 5.5-point spread which is why I will be buying the .5 point and taking the Washington State Cougars +6 on BookMaker for this matchup on Saturday evening.