USC vs. Wisconsin Prediction, Odds & Pick
Prediction, odds and the model's read
Our model's read
Scouting report
2026 · 2 games in, blended with the projection
Where USC gets at Wisconsin: 2nd on first and second down, against a unit 129th on early downs defensively. Where Wisconsin gets at USC: 12th at hitting chunk plays, against a unit 97th at keeping everything in front of them. USC is also 5th at keeping a clean pocket, against a unit 122nd.
How
USCattacks
WIS
- 1
Win first and second down
first and second down · 27% this season, 2 games
USC62%#2 of 138WIS51%#129 of 138 - 2
Expect a clean pocket
sacks and tackles for loss · 27% this season, 2 games
USC7.2%#5 of 138WIS10.2%#122 of 138 - 3
Stay on schedule through the air
staying on schedule through the air · 27% this season, 2 games
USC69%#2 of 138WIS47%#117 of 138
HowWISattacksUSC
- 1
Take shots
hitting chunk plays · 43% this season, 1 game
WIS1.54#12 of 138USC1.42#97 of 138
The two teams
USC
USC throws it: Lincoln Riley's offenses have been pass-leaning across 9 seasons. The strengths are offensive, led by 1st at throwing it. The way in is 114th at hitting chunk plays.
On fourth down he goes for it about as often as his peers do from the same spots (+2.0%). Against what the expected-points model recommends he is −24.9% — the profession as a whole is negative on this.
USC has played 2 games against an average slate, adjusted for here. That football carries about 25% of what is below; the rest is still the preseason projection.
Strengths
- Offensethrowing it+0.87#1 of 138
- Offensefirst and second down62%#2 of 138
- Offensesurviving second and twelve50%#2 of 138
Soft spots
- Offensehitting chunk plays1.11#114 of 138
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is in year 4 under Luke Fickell, whose offenses have been balanced. The strengths are on both sides of the ball, led by 9th at keeping everything in front of them. The way in is 134th at moving the ball on the ground, and they are 132nd at turning trips inside the 40 into points.
On fourth down he goes for it about as often as his peers do from the same spots (−0.5%). Against what the expected-points model recommends he is −28.4% — the profession as a whole is negative on this.
Wisconsin has played 1 game against a soft slate, adjusted for here. That football carries about 21% of what is below; the rest is still the preseason projection.
Strengths
- Defensehitting chunk plays1.01#9 of 138
- Offensehitting chunk plays1.54#12 of 138
Soft spots
- Offensemoving the ball on the ground31%#134 of 138
- Offenseturning trips inside the 40 into points2.07#132 of 138
- Offensethrowing it+0.14#129 of 138
Ranks are national. Nothing here is last season's number — carrying one forward is measurably worse than saying nothing — and in-season figures are adjusted for who was actually played. This describes the matchup; it is not a prediction and not a pick.
Head coaches only — there is no free feed for coordinators, so on a program where the head coach does not call the offense this describes the staff he hired. Play-calling identity is a style, not a grade: throwing more than the situations warrant is not better than throwing less than they warrant.
Model prediction
how the number is builtOur model simulates the game drive by drive from each side's opponent-adjusted efficiency (WIS Elo 1475, USC Elo 1837 for reference), with home-field advantage. That projects WIS +20.7 (7% to win), essentially in line with the market.
Why that percentage is worth reading: across 604 graded in-season games, the calls this model put near 58% came in at 58.2%. The full calibration table is published, bin by bin. Early in the season the cold-start path runs instead and calibrates less well (Brier 0.2028 against 0.1889).
Model as of Sep 1 · through week 1 · drive simulation
Where the game is won
2026 national rank · right is better
offensethe defense it faces
Moving the ball
USC27th81stWISWIS67th86thUSCThrough the air
USC10th63rdWISWIS97th49thUSCOn the ground
USC66th87thWISWIS85th49thUSCStaying on the field
USC3rd39thWISWIS68th51stUSCTaking care of it
USC104th127thWISWIS48th76thUSC
Each bar runs from last in the country on the left to 1st on the right. The filled span is the gap between the offense and the defense it faces.
Season form — 2026
nationally rankedThe matchup, in context
series history + adjusted profilesUSC leads 7–1 · 50% have been one-possession games
| USC | WIS | |
|---|---|---|
| +26.7 (#9) | CORE overall | -0.8 (#73) |
| +20 / -6 | offense / defense | -6 / -6 |
| 4.41 | points / drive | 0.67 |
| 1.57 | allowed / drive | 3.78 |
| 4% | three-and-outs | 22% |
| +3 | pass over expected | -11 |
Bold is the side ahead. CORE strips the situation from every play and solves the schedule out across the league, so these compare two teams that never met.
Key matchups
The analyst read: each team's offense splits crossed against the opponent's defense, with the edges called out.
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FAQ
Who will win USC vs. Wisconsin?
Gridpex's model favors USC with a 93% win probability.
What's the predicted spread for USC vs. Wisconsin?
The model projects USC by 20.7.
What time is USC vs. Wisconsin and what channel is it on?
Time TBD, at Camp Randall Stadium.
Where this number comes from. Every projection on this page is produced by the same model, run before kickoff on opponent-adjusted efficiency, power ratings and situational data — walk-forward validated on eleven seasons and never adjusted after the fact. How the model works →