The NCAA football season is roaring on as some teams are entering conference play and looking to get an edge in some early season contests. In Big Ten country, Wisconsin takes on Purdue in West Lafayette. The Badgers are coming off a thrashing of Georgia Southern at home, 35-14, while Purdue is looking to rebound from a loss to Syracuse at home, 35-20. Meanwhile, another early conference game is set for action on Friday as ACC foes NC State and Virginia square off. The Wolfpack travel to face the 0-3 Cavaliers on the road as the latter are looking for their first win of the year. Moreover, the former are on the hunt for some more momentum following an emphatic 45-7 win over the VMI Keydets.
In this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each of these teams along with a predicted winner and more notes about NCAA football wagering.
| NCAA Football Week Four Games | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiscoinsin at Purdue | Wisconsin ML | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| NC State at Virginia | NC State ML | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Team Spotlight: Wisconsin
The Badgers are hoping for a big year this season and a win over Purdue on the road would do wonders for the team’s confidence. While they were upended against Washington State two weeks ago in Pullman, 31-22, they were still able to rebound against the Eagles. Badgers quarterback Tanner Mordecai has already thrown for over 700 yards on the season and running back Chez Mellusi is closing in on 300 yards already on the year. A truly more run-heavy offense, the Badgers average over 200 yards a game and also give up less than 100 yards on the ground each contest.
Team Spotlight: Purdue
Meanwhile, the Boilermakers feature their own signal-caller that can sling it around the field in quarterback Hudson Card. The junior from Austin, Texas has thrown for 825 yards on the year along with three passing scores. If he can keep piling up yards, but also get into the end zone more consistently, then Purdue might be able to pull off some more games throughout the year. His favorite target this season thus far has been wide receiver Deion Burks who already has three receiving scores on the year. Purdue’s offense has not been the problem this season as they average nearly 400 yards a game, but their defense could tighten up, as they allow over 400 yards a game as well.
Prediction: This one should be closer than people expect, but take Wisconsin to win on the road and get some more early-season momentum.
Team Spotlight: NC State
As referenced above, the Wolfpack were able to blast past the Keydets at home last week, 45-7, giving them a rebound performance from the week prior, a 45-24 loss to Notre Dame. Quarterback Brennan Armstrong has been serviceable for NC State this year, throwing for three scores, along with 679 yards on the season, but also tossing three picks as well. However, Armstrong is also the leading rusher for the Wolfpack with 161 total rushing yards and another three scores. This week’s game against the Cavaliers will be a bigger test than VMI, but his dual-threat ability will be much needed on the road.
Team Spotlight: Virginia
The Cavaliers have had some bumpy games this season with losses at home to Tennessee (49-13) and James Madison (a stunning 36-35 upset). Moreover, Virginia was just throttled by Maryland, 42-14. However, this could be the bounce-back game that the Cavaliers have been looking for with an opportunity to right the ship at home. Virginia wide receiver Malik Washington has been their most consistent playmaker on offense with 289 receiving yards on just 18 receptions along with one score. Moreover, the Cavaliers’ weak point this year has been their rushing offense, averaging only 68 yards per game.
Prediction: Early conference matchups can be dicey, but take NC State here to win given the disorganization of the Cavalier offense.
After you are all squared away regarding your weekly NCAA football bets, make sure to also check out the huge array of resources available to you at SBS. Of course, if you are in need of more information relating to the topic at hand, our college football betting sites guide is a must-read page that goes over the latest betting markets in the sport. On a separate note, if you are in need of different payment options to keep you moving along, then our payment methods breakdown page is just for you. Here you can find various options from crypto to traditional banking routes to keep you on top of the action. Finally, if you are intrigued about some higher stakes wagering, then our VIP sports betting sites rundown is for you. Here you can learn more and see if VIP wagering is for you.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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