Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Notre Dame Predictions, Picks & Odds for Week 1 at Lambeau

The No. 4-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish are set to open their 2026 college football season Sunday with this year’s edition of the Shamrock Series against the Wisconsin Badgers at historic Lambeau Field, home of the NFL‘s Green Bay Packers. This will be the second time Notre Dame has faced Wisconsin in the series since its inception in 2009, with their previous meeting played at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, in 2021.

Notre Dame has been one of the top college football programs over the last decade, and that has remained true since Marcus Freeman took over as head coach. Freeman has led the Fighting Irish to a 43-11 record over the last four seasons, highlighted by a National Championship Game appearance in 2024. Despite a 10-2 record, Notre Dame didn’t make the playoff last year and will certainly be carrying that chip on its shoulder throughout the 2026 season.

The Irish will, however, be without major contributors from last season, with running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price both having been selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Their departures put immediate pressure on quarterback CJ Carr and the new-look run game.

Luke Fickell is entering his fourth year as Wisconsin’s head coach, and after back-to-back losing seasons, he needs to show improvement to stay off the hot seat. The Badgers had an underwhelming offense in 2025 but hope their revamped roster, particularly through the transfer portal, will be enough to turn things around. One of those transfers is former Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph, who brings exciting playmaking ability after throwing for 21 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,007 yards and 13 touchdowns with the Monarchs, showcasing true dual-threat abilities.

Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Odds

Notre Dame is listed as a heavy favorite at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook for Sunday’s showdown at Lambeau Field:

• Moneyline: Notre Dame -1600, Wisconsin +800
• Spread: Notre Dame -20.5 (-115), Wisconsin +20.5 (-105)
• Total: Over 46.5 Points (-115), Under 46.5 Points (-105)

Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Prediction

The No. 4 team in the country takes the field against a tough Big Ten squad, with both sides looking to make a statement in Week 1. Head over to Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook to get in on the football betting action, where you can make wagers on Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame like the pick below:

Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin Best Bet: Wisconsin +20.5 (-105)

You may remember that Notre Dame struggled out of the gate last season, losing its first two games of the year before ending on a 10-game winning streak. Wisconsin, on the other hand, started strong with a 2-0 record before enduring a tough rest of the season.

It’s going to be interesting to see how Notre Dame’s offense looks on Sunday with two elite running backs in Love and Price no longer in the backfield, which could result in a not-so-crisp offensive performance to open the season.

Wisconsin has a new-look roster with a lot at stake this season and needs to show major signs of improvement. What better way to do so than by making a statement against the No. 4 team in the nation, whether that’s keeping it close or even pulling off an upset?

• Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin Spread Pick for Sept. 6: Wisconsin +20.5 (-105)

Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Betting Splits

Here’s how the action is trending at Hard Rock Bet for Sunday’s Week 1 matchup:

• Notre Dame is attracting significant moneyline support, with 96.65% of the bets and 94.91% of the handle.
• The Fighting Irish are also generating the majority of support on the spread, with 80.9% of wagers and 79.5% of the money.
• The Over is drawing 71.58% of bets on the total, but the Under accounts for 59.61% of the handle.

Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Game Info

• 📍 Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
• 📅 Date: Sunday, Sept. 6
• ⏰ Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET
• 📺💻 TV/Streaming: NBC