Wisconsin vs. Iowa Pick
After a tough loss at home last weekend, can No. 10 Wisconsin go on the road and beat Iowa this Saturday at Noon ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Wisconsin is favored on the road in this game, as the Badgers are getting odds of -3.5 points against the Hawkeyes. The over/under total is listed at 42.5 points. The road team has won five straight in this series, but Iowa is 5-2 against the spread in their last seven against the Badgers.
Iowa fell to 4-2 on the season and 1-2 in the Big Ten last week following a 30-23 OT loss to Ohio State at home. The Badgers have lost two straight but are 5-1 against the spread as both losses came by seven points. Wisconsin has a great defense, allowing just 15.2 points and 311.3 yards per game on the year. However, their offense is somewhat of a mess, as Wisconsin is averaging only 25.5 points and 375.2 yards per game. The run game is strong, putting up 174 yards per game behind 483 yards from Corey Clement. However, QB Alex Hornibrook has thrown for just 680 yards and five touchdowns with six interceptions this season.
Iowa moved to 5-2 on the season and 3-1 in the Big Ten thanks to a 49-35 win at Purdue last week. The Hawkeyes are just 3-4 against the spread this year, including just 1-3 ATS at home. Iowa is giving up just 19.1 points per game on defense, but still allowing 371 yards per game, including 151.9 rushing yards per contest. When it comes to offense, Iowa is putting up 30.9 points per game, but averaging only 364.1 yards per game. Iowa has a great run game behind Akrum Wadley and LeShun Daniels Jr., who have combined for 1,181 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. C.J. Beathard has added 1,227 passing yards with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions.
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I look for this game to be somewhat of a grind, a typical Big Ten battle at the line of scrimmage. Both teams will look to control tempo with their run games, but I have more trust in the Wisconsin defense. The Badgers have faced much tougher opponents thus far and had success in stopping them. While the Wisconsin offense isn’t terribly reliable, they have scored on most opponents. Iowa isn’t quite the defensive juggernaut it has been before, so Wisconsin will be able to get some touchdowns, which is all it will need to win and cover.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 8 PICK: WISCONSIN -3.5