USC vs Wisconsin Picks and Predictions for Saturday October 24 2026
Wisconsin threw for 66 yards against UCLA Saturday. Sixty-six. That’s not going to win many Big Ten games, especially when the other team can actually throw the football. Now USC comes to Madison, and the Trojans have a quarterback who just threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns at Penn State. You can see where this might be headed.
USC visits Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET on NBC. The Trojans are favored by 2.5 points, with the total around 49.5. The early forecast calls for temperatures near 60 degrees, dry conditions, and a light breeze. Wind gusts still need checking. USC has had an extra week to prepare, while Wisconsin is coming off a frustrating 17-7 loss at UCLA. Check out our free college football picks for more predictions.
USC Has Been Winning On The Road
USC is 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play. The Trojans beat Penn State 31-23 on October 10, and that was a pretty impressive road win. Beaver Stadium was packed for the White Out, and USC didn’t blink. The Trojans were tied 17-17 at halftime, fell behind briefly in the third quarter, and then made the plays they needed to win. USC has had a bye week since that game, so the Trojans should be rested. Now they’re going to Camp Randall, which isn’t exactly a quiet place to play, either. But they’ve already shown they can handle a loud Big Ten road crowd.
USC’s offense has been moving the football well, and the Penn State game was a good example. The Trojans scored 31 against a defense that had plenty of talent, and they put together a ten-play, 71-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to put the game away. That’s good situational football. Wisconsin’s defense has been pretty solid, but UCLA moved the ball for 384 yards Saturday and controlled the clock for more than 37 minutes. USC has enough offensive balance to make the Badgers defend the whole field. The Trojans don’t need to throw it 50 times, but they’ll take their chances downfield if Wisconsin starts crowding the line.
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Jayden Maiava threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns against Penn State, completing 21 of 33 passes without an interception. Trent Mosley, Tanook Hines, and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt each caught touchdown passes. King Miller added a rushing touchdown. That’s a nice collection of offensive production, and it gives Wisconsin several problems to worry about. The Trojans have been getting contributions from different receivers, so the Badgers can’t just take away one guy and call it a day. USC needs to protect Maiava and avoid turnovers, but I like the way this offense has been playing.
Wisconsin Needs To Find Some Passing Yards
Wisconsin is 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play. The Badgers lost 17-7 at UCLA Saturday, and the offense was pretty rough. They were down 10-0 at halftime, got a touchdown in the third quarter after an interception, and then couldn’t do anything with their remaining chances. Wisconsin has been better at home, and Camp Randall should be loud Saturday night. But the Badgers need to show something offensively. Seven points isn’t going to get it done against USC.
Wisconsin finished with 214 yards against UCLA. The Badgers threw for 66 and ran for 148. They converted only three of 11 third downs and had the football for less than 23 minutes. That’s a bad combination. The defense gave up 384 yards, including 264 through the air, and UCLA converted 13 of 20 third downs. USC’s passing game is better than UCLA’s, so Wisconsin needs to tighten up its coverage and get more pressure on the quarterback. Otherwise, Maiava is going to have plenty of chances to pick the secondary apart.
Colton Joseph completed six of 16 passes for 66 yards against UCLA. He did run for 71 yards and a touchdown, but that’s not enough passing production to keep a defense honest. Joseph has thrown for 1,198 yards with ten touchdowns and five interceptions this season, so he’s capable of better. Marvin Burks Jr. had two interceptions against UCLA, and Wisconsin could use another big defensive performance from him. The Badgers need Joseph to make some throws, though. They can’t count on scoring every time the defense hands them good field position.
USC vs Wisconsin Picks and Predictions
USC -2.5 (-110)
I’m taking USC and laying the 2.5. Wisconsin has the home field, and Camp Randall at night can be a difficult place to play. But the Trojans just won at Penn State in front of more than 114,000 people. I don’t think they’re going to be intimidated by the crowd. Maiava is playing good football, and Wisconsin just gave up 264 passing yards to UCLA. The Badgers also struggled to throw the football themselves. That’s the difference for me. USC has the more reliable offense, and I think the Trojans make enough plays to win by a touchdown.
Under 49.5 Points (-110)
I’m going under 49.5. USC can score, and that’s the part that makes me nervous. The Trojans put up 31 at Penn State, and they have enough weapons to get into the 30s again. But Wisconsin’s offense has been struggling, and I don’t see the Badgers suddenly scoring 28 against USC. Joseph completed six passes against UCLA. Six. Wisconsin will try to run the football and keep Maiava on the sideline, which should help slow the game down. The danger is USC hitting several big plays or Wisconsin turning the ball over. But I think the Badgers have trouble sustaining drives, and USC wins something like 27-17. Give me the under.
Final Picks: USC -2.5 (-110) and Under 49.5 Points (-110)
This preview was completed October 18, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and weather forecasts may change before kickoff.
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