Redshirt
Matchup preview

Wisconsin vs Notre Dame

Wisconsin meet Notre Dame in Week 1. The model favors Notre Dame by 21.6. Win probability, the tale of the tape, and the all-time series, all from real data.

Win probability
10%
90%

Model win probability from SP+ ratings + home-field edge.

The read
Model analysis · August 20 · refreshed weekly

SP+ separates these teams sharply: Notre Dame rates 26.5 (third) against Wisconsin's 3.8 (54th), a gap that drives a 22.7-point projected margin and a 92 percent Irish win probability. The market sits close but a touch softer, pricing Notre Dame at minus 20.5 with an 89 percent implied edge. That roughly two-point spread between the model margin and the line is the only meaningful disagreement on the board, and it leans Notre Dame.

The unit ranks explain the price. Notre Dame pairs the third-ranked offense with the ninth-ranked defense, while Wisconsin's 100th-ranked offense faces the tougher assignment against a top-ten unit. Wisconsin's defense (20th) is the one credential that travels on this neutral field, but that alone caps the upset path rather than opening one.

Season context reinforces the tiers: Notre Dame projects to 9.8 wins with a 73.5 percent Playoff chance and 9.1 percent title odds, just under the market's 11 percent, against Wisconsin's 5.8 wins and 1.7 percent Playoff odds. The lone prior meeting, a 41-13 Notre Dame win in 2021, fits the same script. Model and market align on a comfortable Irish favorite.

Model and market both make Notre Dame a heavy favorite, and the ratings gap leaves little room for a Wisconsin case.

Matchup odds
Consensus line · 3 books
Spread
ND -20.8
Total (O/U)
46.2
Favorite
ND
Moneyline win probability (implied from the spread)

Real consensus line across 3 sportsbooks. Spread and total are the current market number; the win probabilities are implied from the spread.

Matchup odds price history
The market to win this game · daily prices, colored by the favorite
Wisconsin1%-13 ptsvsNotre Dame99%+13 pts
0%25%50%75%100%Wisconsin favoredNotre Dame favoredJun 9Jun 27Jul 14Jul 30Aug 14Aug 29Sep 7

Real daily prices from the market to win this game, shown as Wisconsin's win price; Notre Dame's is 100 minus it (the same market's other side). Above the 50% line Wisconsin is favored, below it Notre Dame is, and each candle takes the favored team's color. Kalshi shows open-high-low-close candles (filled body closed up, hollow closed down). As of Sep 23.

Tale of the tape
Percentile vs FBS · 2025 stats, 2026 SP+
#56SP+SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.#3
#60FPIFPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.#3
1502EloElo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.2243
-Title oddsDe-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.10.7%
WisconsinNotre Damesolid = better, faded = trailing
What these metrics mean
SP+. SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.
FPI. FPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.
Elo. Elo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.
Title odds. De-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.
Off PPA. PPA (Predicted Points Added): the average point value each play adds. Higher is better for offense, lower for defense.
Success. Success rate: the share of plays that stay on schedule (roughly 50% of needed yards on 1st down, 70% on 2nd, 100% on 3rd/4th). Higher is better.
Explosive. Explosiveness: the average value of a team's successful plays, i.e. how big its good plays are when they hit.
Yards/game. Total yards gained per game.
Success allowed. How often the defense allows an on-schedule play (enough yards for the down). Lower is better.
Havoc. Havoc rate: the share of plays where the defense makes a tackle for loss, forced fumble, interception, or pass breakup.
Yards allowed. Total yards allowed per game. Lower is better.
Efficiency profile
Percentile vs FBS · 2025
Recent series
Notre Dame lead 1-0
20212021
Head to head
Every meeting in our records
2021
41-13
Notre Dame
neutral site
More Week 1 matchups
Model previews for the rest of the slate
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I trade the Wisconsin vs Notre Dame game?

Kalshi lists winner markets for college football games. Sign up with code FADE (trade $25, get up to $500), open the Wisconsin vs Notre Dame market when it posts, and buy YES on your side; the price in cents equals the market's implied win probability. You can sell before kickoff or settlement at the current price.

When do Wisconsin and Notre Dame play?

Week 1 of 2026, on Sep 6, 2026 at a neutral site.

Who is favored?

The model projects Notre Dame by 21.6 (90% win probability), from SP+ ratings.

What is the all-time series?

Notre Dame lead 1-0 over the meetings in our records.

Full schedule → · Both teams' playoff odds, from 10,000 simulations →

Trade this game
Code VAULT: trade $10, get $20
ProphetX →