It should be a defensive battle on Saturday when the ninth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes visit Camp Randall Stadium to take on the Wisconsin Badgers in a Big Ten West matchup. The Hawkeyes (6-1) had a week to rest for this 2021 Heartland Trophy battle after a disappointing 24-7 loss to Purdue. They still have a chance to win the division, as they are tied at the top with Minnesota and face the Gophers in two weeks. The Badgers (4-3) have won three in a row, including a 30-13 victory against that same Purdue team, which was ranked 25th after its victory against the Hawkeyes.
Kickoff is set for noon ET in Madison, Wis. The Badgers are 3.5-point favorites in the latest Iowa vs. Wisconsin odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under is 36.5, the lowest total of the week. Before making any Wisconsin vs. Iowa picks, be sure to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,900 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters Week 9 of the 2021 season on a 26-11 run on all top-rated college football side picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now the model has dialed in on Iowa vs. Wisconsin and just revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see all of the model’s CFB picks. Now, here are the college football odds and trends for Wisconsin vs. Iowa:
- Iowa vs. Wisconsin spread: Badgers -3.5
- Iowa vs. Wisconsin over-under: 36.5 points
- Iowa vs. Wisconsin money line: Iowa +145, Badgers -170
- Iowa: The Hawkeyes are 12-8 ATS vs. ranked opponents since 2016.
- Wisconsin: The Badgers are 29-26-2 ATS as a favorite since 2016.
Featured Game | Wisconsin Badgers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
Why Iowa can cover
Iowa will be well-rested and surely used the time off to work on its struggling offense. The road team is 10-4 against the spread in the last 14 meetings between these teams, and quarterback Spencer Petras has 1,333 passing yards and nine TDs. He has weapons in tight end Sam LaPorta, who leads the team with 332 yards, and running back Tyler Goodson (586 yards, five TDs) The Hawkeyes turned the ball over four times in the loss to Purdue, but they had only five total through the first six games. Turnovers are likely to play a big role in this defensive battle.
Iowa is second in the nation in takeaways (20) while Wisconsin has turned the ball over 16 times (T-123). The Hawkeyes are 5-0-1 ATS in their last six as an underdog, and the defense has carried them all season. The unit is allowing just 14.3 points per game, third-fewest in the nation, and faces a Badgers attack that averages just 21.1 (110th). It will be strength against strength, with the Wisconsin running game facing Iowa’s seventh-rated rush defense (89.7 yards per game). Linebacker Jack Campbell has 64 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
Why Wisconsin can cover
Wisconsin has won seven of the past nine meetings and holds a 48-44-2 edge in the all-time series. It is 10-6 against the spread in its past 16 when coming off a victory, and it ran through the Boilermakers last week. Purdue had minus-13 rushing yards while the Badgers put up 290, with Chez Mellusi running for 149 and Braelon Allen adding 140 on just 12 carries. Iowa is tough against the run, but the Badgers average 218.4 yards per game on the ground (19th in FBS). Mellusi and Allen have combined for 1,120 yards (5.6 per carry) and nine touchdowns.
The Badgers defense is even more stingy against the run. It is the best in the nation, allowing 53.3 rushing yards per game. The unit also yields just 18.4 points (17th in FBS) on average. It faces an Iowa offense that ranks 100th or lower in all yardage statistics, and the Hawkeyes score just 28 per game (75th) despite getting help from three defensive TDs. The Badgers picked off three passes last week, and Leo Chenal had 3.5 sacks. Fellow linebackers Jack Sanborn (34 tackles) and Nick Herbig (3.5 sacks) also make big plays all over the field.
How to make Wisconsin vs. Iowa picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 30 points. It also has an against-the-spread pick that cashes in almost 70 percent of simulations. Head to SportsLine to see that pick.
So who wins Iowa vs. Wisconsin? And which side is covering almost 70 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is on a 26-11 run on top-rated picks, and find out.
