Week 1 has brought about a ton of great college football action, and that will continue with a great Sunday slate. Two marquee matchups are happening at 7:30, and one of them features a Big Ten team and a strong independent team. The Wisconsin Badgers (4-8 last season) take on the No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-2 last season) at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Badgers, perhaps with more of a fanbase behind them in Lambeau, started ok enough, with wins against Miami (OH) and Middle Tennessee State. However, they went on a six-game losing streak once conference play started, and in that span, the Badgers had just 41 points in total.
Their offense didn't show up at the end of the season either, but they at least had upset
wins against Washington and Illinois. Overall, they scored just 20 points twice last season, which is disappointing considering Luke Fickell's background is offense.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish, meanwhile, left last season with a bitter taste in their mouth from the committee. They went 10-2, with their only losses coming against Miami and Texas A&M, two playoff teams. Those losses were at the beginning of the season, giving them such a slim margin for error to make the College Football Playoff.
They still went on to win all of their next 10 games, but as an independent, they didn't get a conference championship, so they were behind Alabama, who lost and had a worse record (10-3). They also slipped behind the Hurricanes due to their head-to-head record, so the Fighting Irish did not make the CFP. They decided to skip their bowl game as a protest. Obviously, they're looking to get back to the CFP again.
If you are looking for some betting advice for the matchup, we've got you covered. Here are the latest odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM.
Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame game odds
All college football odds via BetMGM
Over-Under: Over 46 (-110), Under 46 (-110)
Spread: Notre Dame -21 (-115), Wisconsin +21 (-105)
Money Line: Notre Dame -1820, Wisconsin +1010
Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame prediction, pick:
Everyone is picking Notre Dame to do big things, whether that's winning a game in the College Football Playoff or winning the national championship. With one of the best Fighting Irish teams under Marcus Freeman, it's reasonable to see that. Wisconsin has been a dud in the Luke Fickell era, but a win in Green Bay against Notre Dame would go a long way towards revitalizing the program and taking Fickell off of the hotseat.
The Badgers' defense is great. Even with one of the worst offenses in the league, their defense has helped them win games. Their front seven was stellar last season.
Still, the Wisconsin offense has a ton to prove. The defense for Notre Dame is otherworldly; their secondary is awesome, especially Leonard Moore. That doesn't bode well for a team that scored fewer than 14 points in eight of their last nine games.
Notre Dame needs to run the ball in this opener. They ran the ball 28 times in their loss to Miami last season and their loss against Northern Illinois in Week 2. Against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the national championship, they ran the ball a season low 26 times.
Even if Notre Dame isn't able to run the football as much without Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, the passing game should still make enough plays to win Notre Dame the game. It could be closer than the spread suggests, but the Fighting Irish should take the first step towards getting back to championship contention.
Score Prediction: Notre Dame 31, Wisconsin 13
Best Bets: Under 46
Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame channel, start time, streaming:
Date: Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV Channel: NBC
Live Stream: Peacock, FuboTV
Watch Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame on FuboTV (Free Trial)
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Wisconsin vs. No. 5 Notre Dame: Week 1 Betting Odds, Prediction
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