Wisconsin vs Iowa Picks: Take Hawkeyes ATS vs Badgers 11/2
- Wisconsin has won two straight road games vs Big Ten competition.
- Iowa is giving backup quarterback Brendan Sullivan the start this week.
- Per Wisconsin vs Iowa stats, the Hawkeyes have won two straight vs the Badgers.
- Check the latest odds and make your bets on BetUS Sportsbook.
Two Big Ten teams that used to be perennial contenders for the conference championship game before the league expanded square off on Saturday night when the Iowa Hawkeyes host the Wisconsin Badgers. In the new world of the 18-school Big Ten, these two teams are just looking to become bowl-eligible with a win this weekend.
Iowa is coming off a win over Northwestern and is looking for just its second winning streak of the season, having won two in a row earlier in the campaign. Wisconsin had its three-game winning streak snapped with a loss to undefeated Penn State last weekend.
The college football lines have the Hawkeyes as three-point favorites for this contest. The over/under for the game has been set at 40½ points.
Let’s take a closer look at this game so you can make some informed college football bets for this weekend.
Wisconsin vs Iowa Game Information
- Game: Wisconsin (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) vs Iowa (5-3, 3-2)
- Date/Time: Saturday, Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
- Wisconsin vs Iowa Live Stream: NBC.
Wisconsin vs Iowa Odds and Spreads
Place your Bets on Wisconsin vs Iowa at BetUS Sportsbook!
2 Things To Think for Betting Wisconsin vs Iowa
1. Hawkeyes QB Change Could Spark Offense
It’s not like Iowa hasn’t had some moments of solid scoring this season. The Hawkeyes, who averaged just 15.4 points a season ago, are putting up 29.4 points per contest in 2024, but they just didn’t have a spark of late.
Coach Kirk Ferentz could feel it last weekend. The Iowa Hawkeyes had fallen to Michigan State 32-20 the previous week and had just three points midway through the second quarter against Northwestern. The Wildcats led 7-3 thanks to an interception return for a touchdown off quarterback Cade McNamara’s throw.
So Ferentz inserted backup Brendan Sullivan and things started to turn around. The Hawkeyes outscored the Wildcats 37-7 from that point, leading Ferentz to name Sullivan the starter for this week, according to college football news.
“Just to come out and play the way we did in the third quarter, it was really great,” Ferentz said of the Hawkeyes’ 28-point third quarter vs the Wildcats. “You get 28 points, it makes life easier.”
Life is a lot easier for everyone thanks to the play of Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, who is second in the nation in rushing yards with 1,144. Johnson had three touchdowns against the Wildcats, his sixth multi-touchdown game of the season.
Big Play KJ@Kj_Superman2 x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/v3IxznXtac
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) October 28, 2024
That could be big trouble for the Wisconsin Badgers, who rank 14th in the Big Ten in rushing yards allowed per game at 144.0. Wisconsin is going to have to really focus on stopping Johnson, which could allow Sullivan, who is also a running threat, to have a big starting debut.
The presence of Johnson is a big reason why Iowa is getting the college football predictions for a win in this one.
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2. Badgers Have Their Own Offensive Fluctuations
Iowa isn’t the only team that has had to switch quarterbacks this season as Wisconsin has former backup Braedyn Locke as its starter. Unfortunately, in the Badgers’ case, it was injury that caused the switch when Tyler Van Dyke tore his ACL early in the team’s loss to Alabama on Sept. 14.
Locke has been solid as the starter, throwing for 1,281 yards and seven touchdowns, but he’s also shown his inexperience by getting picked off six times. Last week against Penn State was the first time he hasn’t had a touchdown pass in a Big Ten game this season, and he threw at least one interception for the fifth straight contest.
That’s not a good sign against an Iowa defense that loves to force turnovers. The Hawkeyes are second in the Big Ten with 10 interceptions this season, something to keep in mind for online betting.
Wisconsin will certainly try to establish its running game behind running back Tawee Walker. The senior has 624 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground this season and had a two-game streak of 100-yard games snapped in the loss to Penn State last weekend.
Iowa’s defense is strong against the run, allowing just 104.1 yards per game, though Michigan State was able to rack up 212 yards on the Hawkeyes two weeks ago.
Still, we like Iowa’s offense right now more than we like Wisconsin’s, so the Hawkeyes are the team you should be backing in your NCAA football picks.
Question of the Day
When was the last time Wisconsin beat Iowa on the road?
The Badgers haven’t won in Iowa City since 2018, when they topped the Hawkeyes, 28-17.
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.
