Once again, the crew at Capital Times sports will offer its predictions heading into every University of Wisconsin football game this season.

But this year, there's a twist: We're picking against the spread.

This isn't an endorsement of gambling, but rather an attempt to up the ante for our crew, which has rolled through a series of double-digit victory totals over the past four seasons as the Badgers have re-established themselves as a national powerhouse and removed the mystery from the outcome of most games.

This week's picks were made against a prevailing line that had Wisconsin favored by 26.5 points.

MIKE LUCAS

Allan Evridge will have the distinction of becoming the UW's first lefthanded starting quarterback in 44 years. Or, since Harold Brandt succeeded Ron Vander Kelen and was the leading passer in 1963 and 1964. Peter Lee, a lefty, was a member of the 1998 team that is celebrating a reunion this weekend. Lee, the No. 3 quarterback, never attempted a pass, but did take a couple of knees to seal blowout wins. He ended up transferring to Yale. Evridge may not get many chances to put the ball in the air since the Zips defensively should be no match for the ground-hugging Badgers.

Pick: Wisconsin 42, Akron 3
2007 record: 11-2

JIM POLZIN

If nothing else, the new 40-second play clock should decrease the number of delay of game penalties this season. Offensive coordinator Paul Chryst agreed with that assessment earlier this week, although he pointed out the offense will have to hustle down the field after big-yardage plays. Saturday may be a good test in that regard. Even though P.J. Hill, Zach Brown and John Clay may not be the most explosive backs in the country, Akron's defensive line is so depleted that the Badgers should zip right through the Zips' run defense.

Pick: Wisconsin 45, Akron 21
2007 record: 12-1  

ADAM MERTZ

The last time Akron visited Madison, in 2003, Camp Randall was just beginning to undergo its renovation and the UW football program was on the cusp of getting overhauled. The Badgers were able to overcome a strong challenge from a Zips team quarterbacked by future NFLer Charlie Frye, breaking free from a second-half tie with a 99-yard TD bomb from future Indianapolis Colts QB Jim Sorgi to a post-surgical Lee Evans, the future Buffalo Bills WR, en route to a 48-31 victory. Expect a less competitive contest this time around; these Badgers are better than the 7-6 version from five years ago, and these Zips are not.

Pick: Wisconsin 41, Akron 13
2007 record: 12-1