USC vs Wisconsin Picks and Predictions for Saturday, October 24, 2026

USC heads to Madison on Saturday having won two straight, while Wisconsin is trying to recover from a difficult afternoon at UCLA. The game takes place at Camp Randall Stadium, with kickoff at 7:30 pm ET on NBC. No. 16 USC is 6-1 and tied for third in the Big Ten at 3-1. The Trojans last played October 10, beating Penn State 31-23. Wisconsin is 4-2 and tied for seventh in the conference at 2-1. The Badgers saw their four-game winning streak end last Saturday in a 17-7 loss to UCLA. Build your bankroll with our free NCAAF picks.

USC Has Been Winning With Its Passing Game

USC got a welcome break after beating Penn State on the road. The Trojans won 31-23, one week after edging Washington 25-21. Both games were tighter than their earlier outings. Oregon handed USC its only defeat, 41-27, but the Trojans also scored 42 at Rutgers and 49 against Louisville. Most of the scoring starts with the passing game. USC has collected 2,171 yards through the air in seven games, compared with 1,066 on the ground. The offense has scored 30 touchdowns between rushing and passing plays.

Jayden Maiava has thrown for 2,045 yards and 18 touchdowns, with only three interceptions on 224 attempts. King Miller gives USC some balance, rushing for 595 yards and four scores. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt has 400 receiving yards and four touchdowns, while Trent Mosley has added 366 yards and five scores. Defensively, Christian Pierce and Deven Bryant share the team lead with 39 tackles. Kennedy Urlacher has three sacks, and Prophet Brown has picked off two passes.

Injuries: Terrell Anderson, Corey Simms and K. O'Connor are out. M. Bowman, K. Reddick, D. Redeaux, R. Ison, S. Huard and R. Tezeno are questionable.

Wisconsin Needs Its Offense Back

Wisconsin had been playing well before its trip to Los Angeles. The Badgers beat Eastern Michigan 54-10, edged Penn State 24-20 and held Michigan State to three points in a 31-3 victory. Then UCLA kept Wisconsin to a single touchdown in a 17-7 defeat. That was its lowest scoring total of the season. Wisconsin has gained 913 rushing yards in six games, but the quarterback has accounted for more than a third of them. The Badgers will need to be sharper against USC.

Colton Joseph has thrown 10 touchdowns and five interceptions, completing 87 of 159 passes for 1,198 yards. He's also Wisconsin's leading rusher with 333 yards and four touchdowns. Abu Sama III has chipped in 224 rushing yards, while Darrion Dupree has 215. Tyrell Henry leads the receivers with 343 yards, and Jacob Harris has three touchdown catches. Cooper Catalano has 50 tackles on defense, followed by Mason Posa with 47. Marvin Burks Jr. has two interceptions. Wisconsin's defense will have its hands full trying to contain Maiava.

Injuries: D. O'Neil is out. M. Lane and N. Palmer are questionable.

Key To The Game

Maiava has thrown 18 touchdown passes, while Wisconsin has recorded only eight sacks in six games. Giving him time is dangerous. The Badgers need their rushing attack to work so Joseph isn't forced to keep pace through the air.

USC vs Wisconsin Pick

• USC -3

Wisconsin has been tough at home, but USC's passing game gives it an advantage in this matchup. Maiava has 18 touchdown passes and only three interceptions, and the Badgers have recorded eight sacks in six games. Wisconsin also managed just seven points at UCLA last weekend. Joseph can make plays on the ground, but USC has more ways to score. The Trojans will win and cover the three-point spread Saturday night in Madison.

USC vs Wisconsin Over/Under Pick

• Under 49.5

USC has scored at least 25 points in each of its last five games, but Wisconsin's recent results point toward a slower contest. The Badgers held Michigan State to three points and managed only seven themselves at UCLA. Wisconsin relies heavily on Joseph to move the ball, which could limit possessions. USC will score, but the home defense can prevent a shootout. This game will finish under 49.5 points on Saturday night.