Wisconsin vs Notre Dame Prediction 9/6/2026 Today’s College Football Picks

The Wisconsin Badgers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish meet in week 1 college football action from Lambeau Field on Sunday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Wisconsin Badgers vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Prediction.

Wisconsin Badgers Team Preview

The Wisconsin Badgers come into the 2026 season looking to shake off a rough 2025 where the Badgers went 4-8 overall including 2-7 in Big Ten play. Colton Joseph transfers in from Old Dominion as one of the most dynamic dual threat QBs in the nation while Darrion Dupree returns after leading Wisconsin with 363 rushing yards while also getting Abu Sama III from Iowa State and Bryan Jackson II from USC. On defense, Jon Jon Kamara comes in from Kansas and Justus Boone comes in from Arkansas to help the pass rush and Tyreese Fearby and Sebastian Cheeks also are expected to shoulder bigger loads up front. 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Team Preview

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish come into the 2026 campaign hoping to increase their success from 2025 and maybe even go one step further after going 10-2 overall, but failing to make the College Football Playoff. CJ Carr is back after completing 67.1% of his passes for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns and 6 interceptions last season, while his top target, Jordan Faison is back after logging 49 grabs in 2025. The challenge for Notre Dame will be replacing one of the best 1-2 running back punches in recent memory in Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. On defense, the strength of Notre Dame will be their linebackers with Drayk Bowen, Jaiden Ausberry, Kyngston Viliamu-Asa and Jayden Sneed all solid options. The defensive line is also strewn with elite level transfers making this Notre Dame front seven one of the best in the country. 

Wisconsin Badgers @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Trends: Week 1

Why the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will win

• Notre Dame has won each of its last 15 games against non-AP-ranked teams.
• Wisconsin has lost each of its last 10 games against top-15 AP-ranked teams.
• Notre Dame has covered the spread in each of its last six games as a favorite at neutral venues.
• Wisconsin has failed to cover the spread in each of its last six September games against AP-ranked teams.
• Notre Dame has won the first quarter in each of its last nine games against non-AP-ranked teams at neutral venues.
• Notre Dame has won the first half each of its last 11 games against non-AP-ranked teams at neutral venues.

Why the Wisconsin Badgers will win

• Wisconsin has won nine of its last 10 season openers.
• Notre Dame has lost each of its last three September games as a top-10 AP-ranked team.
• The team ranked 4th in the AP Poll has failed to cover the spread in eight of its last nine games.
• The underdog has covered the spread in each of Wisconsin’s last five games.
• Wisconsin has won the first half in eight of its last 10 games against non-conference opponents at neutral venues.
• Wisconsin has won the first quarter in each of its last four games against top-15 AP-ranked teams at neutral venues.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Wisconsin’s last nine games have gone UNDER the total points line.
• Each of Notre Dame’s last four games against opponents from the Big Ten Conference at neutral venues have gone OVER the total points line.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Player Prop Facts

• CJ Carr ranked 5th amongst qualified players for passer rating (168.1) last season.

Wisconsin Badgers Player Prop Facts

• Colton Joseph recorded the equal-longest passing touchdown in a single game last season (98 yards vs James Madison Dukes, Week 8).

Matchup/League Facts

• Notre Dame ranked 2nd among FBS teams for points per game last season (42.0).
• Notre Dame ranked 3rd among FBS teams for Q2 points per game last season (12.7).
• Wisconsin ranked 136th among FBS teams for Q1 points per game last season (1.4).
• Wisconsin ranked 136th among FBS teams for Q2 points per game last season (2.8).

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Prediction

I’m on the under in this game. This just feels like a run heavy matchup between two teams that have a ton of talent in terms of keeping the ball on the ground and moving it at will, especially with the added facet of a mobile QB in Wisconsin’s back pocket now. I think this is a game with a continuously moving clock, so give me the under here.

Chris Ruffolo's Pick: Under 46.5