#16 USC vs. Wisconsin Prediction, Spread, NCAAF Picks – Saturday, October 24

We get an exciting matchup in the Big Ten, as #16 USC travels to take on Wisconsin, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. According to PrizePicks, USC is a 2.5-point road favorite for the spread.

USC is coming off a tough back-and-forth win over Penn State, while Wisconsin fell short in a low-scoring matchup with UCLA.

Let’s dive into our USC vs. Wisconsin prediction, featuring player projections for college football picks on PrizePicks.

Make your USC vs. Wisconsin picks on PrizePicks now! 

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#16 USC vs. Wisconsin Prediction, Spread, Over/Under – Saturday, October 24

USC enters Saturday as a 2.5-point favorite over Wisconsin, and the Trojans have a 1.66x payout to win outright.

Here are the full payouts for USC vs. Wisconsin on PrizePicks, including winner payouts, the spread, and over/under. PrizePicks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.

Make your USC vs. Wisconsin prediction on the over/under on PrizePicks!

All stats are via CFB Stats, PFF, Fourth and Short, and Game on Paper unless otherwise noted.

USC has a few more chances to establish itself as a legitimate playoff contender. Next week, it faces #3 Ohio State, then #6 Indiana the following week. Those two games could determine its fate in the College Football Playoffs.

According to PrizePicks, USC has a 3.84x payout to qualify for the 2026 College Football Playoffs, compared to 1.23x for "No."

The Trojans have the offensive firepower to compete with any team in the country, ranking in the 81st percentile for points per game (36.4).

Much of the offense’s success comes down to USC QB Jayden Maiava’s incredible season. He’s been one of the nation’s top passers, as he sits third in passing yards (2,045) and fifth in passing TDs (18).

If USC had a formidable defense, it wouldn’t need to rely so much on Maiava and the offense. The Trojans rank 13th in the Big Ten in points allowed per game to conference opponents (30.0). They’ve been slightly better lately, holding Washington to 21 points, which ranks ninth in PPG (26.8) in conference play, and 21 to Penn State (15th at 18.6 PPG). 

Southern Cal could have another strong defensive performance, as Wisconsin is 13th for PPG in the Big Ten (20.7). What could keep the Badgers in contention in this matchup is their top-ranked defense, which allows the fewest points per game to Big Ten opponents (13.3).

How good is Wisconsin’s defense? It just held UCLA’s offense, which leads the conference in points per game (35.0), to just 17 points.

The Badgers are allowing the fewest passing yards per game to Big Ten opponents (162.0). Their secondary seeks to contain one of the country’s best passers, which could be a requirement to pull off the upset.

Wisconsin also must figure out how to move the ball on offense. The Badgers contained UCLA’s offense, but they fell short thanks to scoring only 7 points.

QB Colton Joseph is dynamic with his legs, ranking 11th in the Big Ten with 333 rushing yards and averaging 5.7 yards per carry. However, he struggles to pass, ranking 15th in passing yards (446).

If USC can jump out to a multiple-possession lead and force Joseph to throw, this game could turn ugly for Wisconsin.

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USC vs. Wisconsin Prediction on Over/Under – 10/24/26

Here are the key stats and predictions behind our USC vs. Wisconsin prediction on the total for Saturday, October 24.

• This will be USC’s toughest defensive test this season, with Wisconsin ranking in the 83rd percentile in points allowed per game (16.7), the fewest of any team USC has faced.
• Wisconsin’s last two opponents (Michigan State and UCLA) scored its lowest point totals of the season vs. the Badgers.
• While USC is only in the 46th percentile in defensive success rate (40.9%), that could be good enough against a Wisconsin offense that sits in the 21st percentile for offensive success rate (39.8%).
• The Badgers may struggle on the ground, as their 38% rush success rate ranks only in the 11th percentile. The Trojans have a solid run defense, with a 40% defensive rush success rate that's in the 59th percentile.
• Wisconsin does an excellent job of slowing the pace, placing in the 11th percentile for situation-adjusted pace (28.4 seconds). This could end up limiting possessions for USC.

Lock in your USC vs. Wisconsin prediction on PrizePicks before kickoff!

USC vs. Wisconsin Picks, Player Stats for PrizePicks – 10/24/26

Saturday’s top USC vs. Wisconsin picks to target on PrizePicks include RB King Miller and QB Colton Joseph.

USC RB King Miller vs. Wisconsin: 72.5 Rush Yards

• Miller has gotten more work as the season has progressed and has at least 18 carries in three of his last five games.
• He’s not just getting yards through volume; his 5.8 yards per carry since Week 2 ranks 13th in the country.
• Wisconsin is in the 81st percentile in EPA allowed per rush (-0.09). Miller has faced one higher-ranked team (Washington; 94th percentile), and he ran for 81 yards in that game.
• Wisconsin’s run defense struggles to contain runners at the line of scrimmage, ranking second-worst in the FBS in stuff rate (12%).

Add King Miller + USC to your PrizePicks lineup now.

Wisconsin QB Colton Joseph vs. USC: 51.5 Rush Yards

• Wisconsin is a run-heavy offense, with a 53.4% rushing play rate.
• Joseph leads the Badgers’ rushing attack, accounting for 35.3% of the team’s carries (69) and 36.4% of their rushing yards.
• He's also 15th nationally in rushing yards among quarterbacks since Week 5 (221).
• USC has been vulnerable to highly mobile quarterbacks, including Louisiana QB Lunch Winfield, who rushed for 91 yards on 13 carries against the Trojans.

Add Colton Joseph + Wisconsin to your PrizePicks lineup now.

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Make USC vs. Wisconsin Picks on PrizePicks

USC is just outside a playoff spot, but it still has a chance with key matchups in the coming weeks. The Trojans cannot look ahead to #3 Ohio State next week because Wisconsin has one of the toughest defenses in the conference, and the Badgers will be looking for a season-defining win.

Don’t wait until kickoff — make your USC vs. Wisconsin picks on PrizePicks now. Just pick your players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in on your predictions if you’re right.

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Keep it here with the Playbook for continued CFB picks, predictions, futures, and more as we continue the 2026 season.