Sep 6, 2026
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Read Article South Dakota State vs. Northwestern prediction: Northwestern favored to win in college football Week 1 [2026]
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Written by Mac Douglass, Senior Editor
Dimers' simulation model projects a 76.8% win probability for Northwestern at Ryan Field.
Northwestern will square off with South Dakota State in Week 1 college football action at Ryan Field on Saturday, with kickoff at 8:00 PM ET.
Dimers' proven college football model projects Northwestern as the most likely winner in this South Dakota State vs. Northwestern prediction.
This article offers a closer look at Saturday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and picks, backed by the same system that has dominated college football and NFL betting markets across multiple seasons.
South Dakota State vs. Northwestern prediction and odds
Using innovative machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of South Dakota State vs. Northwestern, forming part of our college football predictions coverage.
Our famous predictive model gives Northwestern a 76.8% chance of defeating South Dakota State. Our predicted final score has Northwestern winning 30-20.
According to our model, South Dakota State (+14.5) has a 57.8% chance of covering the spread, while the 46.5-point over/under has a 58.3% chance of going over.
Latest betting odds
We have sourced the best college football odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
- Spread: South Dakota State +14.5 (-115) / Northwestern -14.5 (-105)
- Moneyline: South Dakota State +450, Northwestern -500
- Total: Over/Under 46.5 (-115/-105)
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Model picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets in this matchup. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
- Spread: South Dakota State +14.5 @ -115 via bet365
- Moneyline: South Dakota State @ +450 via bet365
- Total: Over 46.5 @ -115 via ESPN BET
According to our best college football bets, the top play to make on this game is South Dakota State to win.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the current available odds.
Game info & kickoff details
Saturday's college football game between Northwestern and South Dakota State at Ryan Field is scheduled to start at 8:00 PM ET.
- Who: South Dakota State vs. Northwestern
- Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
- Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
- Venue: Ryan Field
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Make the most of Dimers' South Dakota State vs. Northwestern predictions by exploring the Bet365 Sportsbook offer below:
Conclusion
We predict Northwestern, with a 76.8% win probability, will likely beat South Dakota State in Saturday's college football matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
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Mac Douglass specializes in NFL previews for the NFC South and NFC East, MLB best bets, Formula 1 race previews, and professional tennis insights. Combining predictive simulations and data-driven sports analysis, Mac provides in-depth content to elevate the betting experience for sports fans.
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