Wisconsin gets a chance to steady its early season against Eastern Michigan in Week 3, and the setup is pretty simple: the Badgers are 1-1, the Eagles are next, and a 2-1 record is what everyone is expecting when this one is over.
The game brings a few wrinkles, though, starting with how fans will actually be able to watch it. Wisconsin’s matchup with Eastern Michigan is on Peacock, and that means another streaming-only assignment for the Badgers. NBC added Penn State’s game the following week to Peacock as well, so Wisconsin is dealing with back-to-back streaming games on the same platform.
On the betting side, Wisconsin is a heavy favorite. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Badgers are -4000 on the moneyline, while Eastern Michigan sits at +1400.
Wisconsin is also laying 24.5 points at -105, with the Eagles getting +24.5 at -115. The total is 45.5, with the over at -106 and the under at -114.
The line has barely budged since opening, with the spread and total holding steady while the moneylines have been the only numbers to shift.
There’s no official injury report since this isn’t a Big Ten conference game, but based on what coaches have said, Wisconsin has a few names worth monitoring. Malachi Coleman is questionable at wide receiver, Emerson Mandell is questionable on the offensive line, and Ryan Schwendeman is out at tight end. Eastern Michigan lists Kozy Isaac and Amareon Blue as questionable at wide receiver.
Weather could also play a role in Madison. The forecast calls for a chance of rain and even thunderstorms, with a high of 68 degrees.
The game should kick off early enough to avoid the worst of it, but the conditions could still change by Saturday. For now, it looks like the kind of fall day that asks you to dress for just about anything.
As for the matchup history, Wisconsin has owned the series. The Badgers and Eagles have met only a small number of times, but Eastern Michigan has never really been in position to pull one out. Wisconsin has handled the Eagles every time and has never had to sweat out a close finish in the series.
In Other News...
Wisconsins Coaching Reset Is Back In Focus After Long-Awaited Comments
Nearly four years after Wisconsin moved on from Paul Chryst and hired Luke Fickell instead of interim coach Jim Leonhard, the coaching reset that changed the programs direction is back in view. Chryst and Leonhard have now both spoken publicly about the abrupt transition, offering the clearest look yet at how each man viewed one of the biggest decisions Wisconsin has made in recent years.
Chryst said he did not agree with being fired, but he still backed Leonhard as the right successor. Leonhard, meanwhile, said he expected to remain at Wisconsin and was surprised when the school went with Fickell instead. Since then, Leonhard has moved into NFL coaching and was recently hired as the Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator, while Chryst has stayed largely out of the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Fickell Just Gave Badgers Fans A Telling Personnel Read
Luke Fickell used a recent press conference to give Wisconsin fans a better sense of where the program stands behind the scenes, and the picture was broader than any one injury report or depth-chart note. He pointed to the positive impact Bradie Ewing has made around the program, crediting him for helping connect with former players while continuing to grow his own role in the building.
Fickell also touched on the development of a defensive player, calling out the physical progress that has come with more time in the system, and he offered an update on Colton Josephs health heading into the weekend. The offensive line came up too, with Fickell giving his assessment of that group as the Badgers continue sorting out personnel and availability across both sides of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins Defense Has An Early Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Through two games, Wisconsins defense has looked like a unit still searching for its edge under fourth-year coordinator Mike Tressel. There were encouraging stretches, especially in the first half against Notre Dame, but the group also showed signs of fading after halftime and had trouble containing the mobile quarterback from Western Illinois. For a defense that spent the offseason emphasizing turnovers, the early returns have been more about effort than payoff.
The bigger concern is what has not happened yet. Wisconsin still has not come away with an interception or a forced fumble, and coaches and players have acknowledged the need to bring more physicality and pressure if they want to change that trend. In a conference race where hidden yardage and sudden momentum swings can matter, those takeaway chances are the sort of detail the Badgers cannot afford to keep leaving on the field. [Read more 🡒]