If the current odds hold for Wisconsin’s season opener against Notre Dame, the Badgers will be a 20½-point underdog on Sunday night at Lambeau Field.
Can Wisconsin pull off the upset?
Earlier this week, UW beat writers Mark Stewart and John Steppe provided their predictions for the game, and we also asked readers to give us their picks for the game Sunday night, as well as Wisconsin’s record for the season.
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Here’s how fans voted:
Among voters, 13% believe Wisconsin will pull off the upset. It would be a mighty task for the Badgers. Notre Dame junior quarterback CJ Carr is a Heisman Trophy candidate and the No. 5 Fighting Irish boast a highly regarded transfer portal class. The team also enters the season as a top candidate for the College Football Playoffs.
Of the 87% of voters picking the Fighting Irish to beat the Badgers, 45% believe Notre Dame will win by 21 points or more, and 42% believe Notre Dame will win by 20 points or less.
Our second poll question asked readers to predict Wisconsin’s overall record for its 12-game season. (Click here for a look at the Badgers’ full schedule in 2026.)
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According to the majority of fans, 23% believe the Badgers will have a winning record and finish 7-5 overall. It was a close finish, however, with 21% picking a 6-6 record and 17% predicting a 5-7 season.
Here’s a complete look at the totals for Wisconsin’s projected record in 2026, according to voters:
3-9 or worse: 8.5%
4-8: 11%
5-7: 17%
6-6: 21%
7-5: 23%
8-4: 15%
9-3 or better: 4.4%
Sunday’s game between Wisconsin and Notre Dame is on NBC at 6:30 p.m., and fans can also join John Steppe for a live blog starting at 3 p.m. at jsonline.com/badgers.
Mark Stewart will provide his takeaways immediately after the game, and JSOnline will have more news, analysis, videos and photo galleries throughout the evening.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Readers pick winner of Wisconsin-Notre Dame game; UW’s season record
