The Iowa Hawkeyes (5-2) welcome the No. 25 Wisconsin Badgers (5-2) to Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 31, for a noon ET kickoff in the 100th meeting between the programs. The winner claims the Heartland Trophy, and Iowa has won the last four matchups, including a 37-0 victory last season. Wisconsin enters at 3-1 in Big Ten play, while Iowa sits at 2-2 in conference action.
Betting Odds
DraftKings Sportsbook lists Iowa as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 36.5 points. The money line has Wisconsin at +114 and Iowa at -135. The over is priced at -112, the under at -108.
Wisconsin's Defensive Statement
Wisconsin rebounded from a 17-7 loss at UCLA with a dominant 24-7 win over No. 16 USC. The Badgers held the Trojans to negative rushing yardage and recorded five sacks and two first-quarter interceptions by Bryce West and Cairo Skanes. Quarterback Colton Joseph completed 12 of 14 passes for a touchdown to Chris Brooks Jr., while running back Abu Sama III added 71 rushing yards. Wisconsin's offense managed only 200 total yards, relying heavily on its defense.
Iowa's Costly Turnovers at Minnesota
Iowa fell 13-10 at Minnesota on a last-second field goal after tying the game with 3:46 remaining on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Hank Brown to Reece Vander Zee. Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski split quarterback duties, combining for 198 passing yards and three interceptions. Despite outgaining Minnesota 288-209, Iowa committed four turnovers. The Hawkeyes' defense recorded 10 tackles for loss and three sacks, holding the Golden Gophers to 72 rushing yards.
Betting Preview and Prediction
Wisconsin's defense makes a compelling case for the outright win at +114. The Badgers limited a USC offense averaging 36.4 points to just seven, and they won at Penn State earlier in September, proving they can handle tough road environments. Iowa's defense allows only 82.9 rushing yards per game, but the Hawkeyes' offense has been turnover-prone, with three interceptions against Minnesota. Wisconsin could capitalize on short fields, especially if Iowa continues to rotate quarterbacks. SportsLine projects a 25-24 Wisconsin victory, aligning with the moneyline selection.
