The Wisconsin Badgers will open the season on the hallowed turf of Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, facing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a Week 1 college football showdown that promises high stakes from the first snap.
Betting Landscape
Bookmakers have installed Wisconsin as a 20.5‑point spread favorite at -105, while Notre Dame sits at -20.5 and -115; the total points line is set at 46.5, with the over priced at -115 and the under at -105, and the money line reflects a steep -1600 for the Irish versus +800 for the Badgers.
Lambeau Field has been a stage for Wisconsin’s most memorable upsets, most notably a 2016 victory over fifth‑ranked LSU, and although the Badgers only recorded two wins against ranked opponents in the 2025 season and missed a bowl game, their home‑field advantage remains a tangible factor.
Entering the matchup, Notre Dame is positioned among the nation’s elite, ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll and No. 5 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, and is widely viewed as a genuine National Championship contender with a deeper, more talented roster than Wisconsin’s.
Head coach Luke Fickell, whose tenure has drawn criticism for inconsistent results over the past two seasons, leads a Fighting Irish squad that analysts expect to dominate, projecting a final score of 31‑13 in favor of Notre Dame.
Despite the pronounced odds, many bettors consider Wisconsin’s spread the most compelling play, suggesting that the Badgers’ home‑field edge and recent ability to upset ranked teams could keep the game closer than the numbers imply.