The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers (-3) and Iowa Hawkeyes are set to go at it on the turf at Kinnick Stadium. The game is scheduled to get going at 8:30 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to FOX.
Betting Preview: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers
Iowa is a live dog and is currently getting 3 points in this Big 10 game. The Badgers are also receiving -155 moneyline odds while the Hawkeyes are +135. This Big 10 matchup should provide several decent live betting opportunities, and Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 41.5 points.
The game’s total was set initially at 44, but square bettors have been hammering the under.
The Badgers are 0-3 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 0.0 units so far. The team’s recorded an O/U mark of 1-2.
The Hawkeyes have been a nice surprise for moneyline bettors this season, gaining 3.0 units. The team is 3-0 ATS and has an O/U record of 0-2.
The Badgers are 2-1 straight up (SU) and they haven’t faced any Big 10 competition yet. The Hawkeyes are 3-0 SU overall and are also 0-0 SU in conference play.
The Badgers fell to BYU 24-21 in a matchup where Alex Hornibrook completed 18-of-28 passes for 190 yards and one interception. Jonathan Taylor (117 yards on 26 rushes) provided the ground attack while Groshek (four receptions, 29 yards) and Danny Davis III (four catches, 40 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Iowa enters this one after just getting a 38-14 win over UNI. Nate Stanley completed 23-of-28 passes for 309 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Mekhi Sargent (72 rushing yards on 15 attempts, two TDs) and Toren Young (82 yards on 14 carries, one TD) spearheaded the running game while Nick Easley (10 receptions, 103 yards, one TD) and Noah Fant (five catches, 99 yards, one TD) led the receiving attack in the win.
Wisconsin’s run the ball on 66.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Iowa has a rush percentage of 61.5 percent. The Badgers have run for 285.0 yards per game and have nine touchdowns on the ground this year. The Hawkeyes are logging 173.7 rush yards per game and have seven total rushing TDs.
It seems like the Hawkeyes should own an edge in the trenches. Their offensive line has yielded only four sacks while the D-line has registered 12 sacks. The Badgers offensive line has allowed six sacks and their defense has sacked opposing QBs just three times.
The Badgers offensive scheme has averaged 199.3 yards in the air overall and has four passing scores so far. The Hawkeyes have produced 215.7 pass yards per contest and have three total pass TDs.
Defensively, Wisconsin should have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 130.7 yards and throw for 145.0 yards per game. The Iowa defense has allowed 167.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 42.0 yards per game on the ground. The Hawkeyes are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 3.59 to opponents, while the Badgers have given up a 4.34 ANY/A.
Offensively, Hornibrook has put up 447 passing yards on the year, and has completed 35-of-57 attempts with two scores through the air and one interception. Hornibrook’s got a 6.65 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 5.93 over the last two games.
For the home team, Nate Stanley has completed 34-of-51 passes for 417 yards, three TDs and two INTs. Stanley’s ANY/A stands at 6.78 for the year and 7.81 over his past two outings.
When these two teams met a year ago, Wisconsin won easily 38-14.
Wisconsin Badgers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Free Pick
SU Winner: Iowa, ATS Winner: Iowa, O/U: Under
