With college football season on the horizon, ESPN Chalk's college football experts -- Phil Steele, "Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris Fallica -- give you betting previews of the top 25 teams in the ESPN College Football Rankings. They break down each team's strengths and weaknesses, along with season win total bets and national title odds.
Odds from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Sept. 1.
Wisconsin Badgers
National title odds: 75-1
Season win total: 9.5
Phil Steele
Strengths: Of all the new head coaches, the most seamless transition is here, with Paul Chryst making few changes on offense and defensive coordinator Dave Aranda back. The Badgers had the No. 1 defense in YPG allowed during the 2014 regular season with just three returning starters; this year, they have six returners. The Badgers have their usual big O-line and a talented RB in Corey Clement, plus a veteran QB in Joel Stave.
Weaknesses: I will list potential weaknesses here, but each issue could be resolved. Stave had a 9-10 TD-INT ratio and a case of the yips last year. The O-line has just two starters back. The Badgers don't have great depth at RB or an established WR.
Over/under: I have the Badgers as underdogs against Alabama, favored by more than a TD in nine games and narrower favorites at Nebraska and at Minnesota. I have them winning the West and as my No. 4 surprise team, so I lean with the over.
National title: This is a solid play. As I mentioned, I have the Badgers favored in 11 of their 12 games, and they beat Auburn in their bowl game last year. Even if the Badgers lose to the Tide in Week 1, they could run the table, get an upset win in the Big Ten title game and make the playoff. For me, that gives them solid line value at 75-1 (should be more like 25-1).
"Stanford Steve" Coughlin
The Badgers open the season with Alabama and then have a good chance to be favored in every game the rest of the season. They return Stave at QB for what seems like his 10th year on campus. They do have a new head coach; Chryst returns to Mad-town after leaving to become the Pitt head coach a few years ago. I guess one thing we can guarantee this year is that whoever gets the bulk of the carries for the Badgers will become a household name, and yet again, the Wisconsin offensive line will never be mentioned in talks about top units in the country.
Seriously, what will be Wisconsin's toughest challenge after the Crimson Tide? Is it at Nebraska? At Illinois? At the Terps? Byrd Stadium is a tough place to play, but if that's your toughest game outside of the opener, you better have a great season. Chryst inherits a team that returns six starters on defense, and as mentioned before, you can always count on those big guys on the offensive line. I mention those two facets of the Badgers' game because good defenses and good offensive lines always travel well. The Badgers will have a shot at the playoff, but they need to win the Big 10 title game, which figures to be against Ohio State or Michigan State.
O/U: This schedule sets up nicely for the over.
Chris Fallica
I'm not as high on the Badgers this season, but that doesn't mean they aren't capable of another nine- or 10-win season. In addition to the loss of Melvin Gordon, the losses of Marcus Trotter and Derek Landisch on defense could be big. There's a chance the Badgers are favored in every game after the Alabama game, and in that sense, it's hard to eliminate them from the list of Big Ten title contenders.
O/U: The schedule is there: no Michigan State, Ohio State or Penn State in the regular season. Assuming the Badgers lose to Alabama in Arlington, they will need to go 10-1 the rest of the way to get the money. That's exactly what they did last year. I'm not sure this year's team is as good as 2014's squad, and I've always maintained that if you aren't good enough, a loss will find you. That theory will be put to the test here. I'll call for 9-3 here and the under.
Title odds: I can't see Wisconsin beating Alabama in Week 1, so I wouldn't play the Badgers at 75-1. If you like them, wait until after Week 1, and you'll probably get a better price. Then maybe they can run the slate and beat an undefeated Ohio State or Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game, which would potentially give them a case for the playoff.