Las Vegas Bowl: Wisconsin vs Arizona State Preview

The Wisconsin Badgers (8-4 SU, 6-6 ATS) are 6-1 SU and 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven bowl games. The Badgers will try to earn another bowl win in the Las Vegas Bowl when they take on the Arizona State Sun Devils (8-4, 5-7).

Las Vegas Bowl: Wisconsin vs Arizona State

Date/Time: December 30, 10:30 p.m. ET
Stadium: Allegiant Stadium
TV Coverage: ESPN
Sportsbook Odds: Wisconsin -7 | O/U 43 (Line History)
Wisconsin vs Arizona State Matchup Report

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The betting line on the Las Vegas Bowl has remained steady since the Badgers opened as 7-point favorites. The total has settled in at 42 points, down slightly from its Sportsbook line of 43 points. Arizona State is 5-12 ATS in its last 17 games played in December.

Wisconsin News & Notes

The Badgers went 7-0 SU and 5-2 ATS through early October and late November before having their winning streak snapped in a 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Wisconsin opened the season with a 1-3 SU and ATS record despite being favored at home in all three losses against Penn State, Notre Dame and Michigan. After allowing 41 points against the Fighting Irish and 38 points against the Wolverines, the Badgers gave up only 11.9 points per game over their last 12 games.

An elite rushing game and defense has been Wisconsin’s bread and butter during the Paul Chryst era, and this year was no different despite the slow start to the season. The Badgers ranked 15th in the nation in rushing with 215.4 yards per game and were sixth in scoring defense, allowing 16.4 points per game. The team’s 240.8 total yards allowed per game ranked No. 1 in the country.

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Arizona State News & Notes

Arizona State finished up the regular season on a 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS run after losing back-to-back games against the Utah Utes and Washington State Cougars in October. Senior running back Rachaad White played a major role in all three of those wins, rushing for 202 yards and three touchdowns against USC, 184 yards and two scores against Washington and 98 yards and a major against rival Arizona.

White will likely need to have another big game in the Las Vegas Bowl to give the Sun Devils a shot at an upset. Jayden Daniels has had a down year in 2021 with only 2,221 passing yards, 10 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. The junior quarterback had 2,943 passing yards with 17 touchdown passes and only two picks back in 2019.

How Wisconsin Will Cover

Wisconsin’s recent bowl success can be attributed to the fact that there’s not much opposing teams can do to game-plan against a great defense and running game. The Badgers just need to play their game in the Las Vegas Bowl to have a great shot to win and cover.

How Arizona State Will Cover

Wisconsin has averaged only 25.8 points per game this season and has received underwhelming quarterback play from Graham Mertz, who has only nine touchdown passes and 10 interceptions in 2021. If the Sun Devils step up on defense, this could be a low-scoring affair in which the +7 spread becomes a major factor.