The Hawkeyes of Iowa (+3) are set to welcome the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers (-3) to Kinnick Stadium. The opening kickoff for this conference matchup is set for 8:30 p.m. ET and FOX is scheduled to have the TV rights.
Wisconsin Badgers at Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview
In this Saturday Big Ten game, Wisconsin is getting picked as the favorite and is currently giving up 3 points. The Badgers are also receiving -155 moneyline odds while the Hawkeyes are +135. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 41.5 points, and if one program can catch a lucky break early, it will probably create a nice betting opportunity in-game.
With the game’s O/U originally set at 44, the the early action has apparently shifted to the under.
The Badgers have gained 0.0 units so far and are 0-3 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 1-2. The Hawkeyes have been a pleasant 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 have gone 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.
These two teams faced off last year with the final result being a 38-14 win for Wisconsin.
The Badgers are on the rebound after a narrow 24-21 defeat to BYU last week. Alex Hornibrook completed 18 passes for 190 yards and one interception. Jonathan Taylor (117 rushing yards on 26 attempts) led 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 having just earned a 38-14 win over UNI. The defense did its part in the victory, keeping the Panthers to just 222 passing yards and six rushing yards. Trevor Allen was a bright spot in the defeat for UNI, accounting for 34 yards on four catches. For Iowa, Nate Stanley completed 23-of-28 passes for 309 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Mekhi Sargent (72 yards on 15 rush attempts, two TDs) and Toren Young (82 yards on 14 carries, one TD) mounted the running game as 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 has 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 yards/game and have nine touchdowns on the ground this year. The Hawkeyes are totaling 174 rushing yards per game and have seven total rush TDs.
If 2018 results are any indication, then it seems like the Hawkeyes may have the more disruptive lines up front, since their offensive line has given up only four sacks while the D-line has logged 12 sacks. The Badgers O-line has given up six sacks and their defense has logged only three sacks.
The Badgers offensive scheme has logged 199 yards per contest through the air overall and has four passing TDs so far. The Hawkeyes have recorded 216 pass yards per game and have three total pass scores.
Defensively, Wisconsin appears to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has let opponents rush for an average of 131 yards and pass for 145 yards per game. The Iowa D has allowed 167.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 42.0 yards per game on the ground. The Hawkeyes are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 3.59 to opposing QBs, while the Badgers have allowed a 4.34 ANY/A.
Offensively, Hornibrook has put up 447 passing yards this season, and has completed 61 percent of his 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 outings.
In the other huddle, 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 last two outings.
NCAA Tip: Wisconsin Badgers at Iowa Hawkeyes
SU Winner – Wisconsin, ATS Winner – Wisconsin, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Iowa defense has sacked opposing QBs 12 times this year. Wisconsin has registered just three sacks.
Iowa has lost zero fumbles this season while the Wisconsin offense has lost two.
The Badgers offense has registered two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Hawkeyes have put up three such plays.
Both defenses have allowed one pass play of 40 or more yards and two pass plays of 30+ yards.
The Wisconsin offense has created six rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Iowa has created two such runs.
The Badgers defense has allowed two rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Hawkeyes have given up zero such runs.
Iowa was favored by -20 points in its previous outing. The team covered that spread in the 38-14 win over UNI.
Over its last three contests, Wisconsin is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Wisconsin was favored by 24 points in its previous game and the Over/Under going into it was 53. The under cashed and Wisconsin failed to cover in the 24-21 defeat to BYU.
Wisconsin has averaged 6.1 yards per carry over its last two outings.
Iowa has averaged 3.6 yards per carry over its last two.
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