Wisconsin Badgers vs Iowa Hawkeyes Prediction & Picks - NCAA
USA - NCAA
New customers only | Commercial content | 21+ age limit | T&Cs apply
by Dan Angell | in NCAA Picks
Wisconsin hosts Iowa in a game that feels like a must-win for the Badgers if Luke Fickell has any intention of still being Wisconsin’s coach in 2026. It might already be too late for Fickell, given how brutal the Badgers’ schedule gets after this week. Following Iowa’s visit, Wisconsin will play Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, Indiana and Illinois in a five-week stretch. Between them, those five teams are a combined 25-2, and the two have come against each other.
So the odds of Wisconsin getting bowl eligible are pretty slim. However, strong showings against rivals Iowa and Minnesota could give Fickell something he can point to as progress. But Wisconsin hasn’t even gotten there yet; Iowa has made this rivalry pretty one-sided as of late. The Hawkeyes have won four of five in the series, and none has been all that close. Wisconsin’s 15-6 loss in Madison in 2023 is the only one of the past five to be decided by single digits.
Limited Offer. Currently at FanDuel
Wisconsin Badgers vs Iowa Hawkeyes Form
Table
Wisconsin Badgers and Iowa Hawkeyes Latest Matches
3/6 (50%)
3/6 (50%)
Oct 4, 2025 - NCAA
Sep 20, 2025 - NCAA
Sep 13, 2025 - NCAA
Sep 6, 2025 - NCAA
Aug 28, 2025 - NCAA
Oct 5, 2024 - NCAA
3/5 (60%)
2/5 (40%)
Sep 20, 2025 - NCAA
Sep 6, 2025 - NCAA
Aug 28, 2025 - NCAA
Oct 5, 2024 - NCAA
Sep 14, 2024 - NCAA
0/2 (0%)
2/2 (100%)
Oct 4, 2025 - NCAA
Sep 13, 2025 - NCAA
3/5 (60%)
2/5 (40%)
Sep 27, 2025 - NCAA
Sep 19, 2025 - NCAA
Sep 13, 2025 - NCAA
Sep 6, 2025 - NCAA
Aug 30, 2025 - NCAA
2/3 (67%)
1/3 (33%)
Sep 27, 2025 - NCAA
Sep 13, 2025 - NCAA
Aug 30, 2025 - NCAA
1/2 (50%)
1/2 (50%)
Sep 19, 2025 - NCAA
Sep 6, 2025 - NCAA
Wisconsin Badgers - Iowa Hawkeyes Key Points
- Iowa is 3-0-1 ATS in its past four games.
- Wisconsin has scored 17 points or fewer in eight of its past 10 games.
- Wisconsin is 2-5 ATS in its past seven games.
- Iowa is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings with Wisconsin.
Limited Offer. Currently at FanDuel
Our Wisconsin Badgers vs Iowa Hawkeyes Prediction
For a must-win game, this really comes at an awful time for Wisconsin. Not only is Iowa coming off a bye, but the Hawkeyes have had two weeks to stew about blowing a game with Indiana that was theirs for the taking. Iowa very nearly had the Hoosiers beaten, but a missed field goal and a coverage bust allowed Indiana to escape with its unbeaten record intact.
The Hawkeyes are still the kind of team that will win with defense. Iowa’s passing attack still tends to go absolutely nowhere, but they can run the ball pretty well and manage drives that way. Wisconsin has yet to solve Iowa’s defense in recent years, as the Badgers have averaged just 12 points per game in their past five meetings with Iowa. In the four losses, it was even worse; Wisconsin never topped 10 points. That says Iowa isn’t going to have to do a lot to cover here. Our prediction for Iowa vs. Wisconsin is Iowa -2.5.
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
