Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin prediction, odds, time: 2026 Week 1 college football picks by proven model — SkimNews
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- No. 4 Notre Dame faces Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET as 21-point favorites with a 46.5 over/under — the program's highest Week 1 ranking in 20 years.
- Marcus Freeman has compiled a 43-14 record over four seasons at Notre Dame, including a 2024 national championship game appearance.
- Luke Fickell's Wisconsin has slid from 7 wins to 5 to 4 across his tenure, putting his job security squarely on the line in the Lambeau opener.
- SportsLine's Projection Model simulated the matchup 10,000 times, projecting 51 combined points and picking the Over at 46.5 (a 55% hit rate in simulations).
- CJ Carr returns at quarterback for Notre Dame after passing for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns; the Irish averaged 42 points per game last season, the highest among power teams.
- Wisconsin added QB Colton Joseph from Old Dominion and RB Abu Sama from Iowa State through the transfer portal and NIL funds to overhaul an offense that ranked among the nation's worst last year.
Why it matters: For Luke Fickell, this is a referendum — an upset likely buys his job after a slide from 7 to 5 to 4 wins, while another loss accelerates pressure. Notre Dame returns 24-TD QB CJ Carr and is favored by 21, but the model projects 51 combined points, picking the Over at 46.5.
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