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Iowa hosts Wisconsin in key Big 10 clash
So who’s the best team in the Big Ten Conference now that Wisconsin has knocked off Ohio State?
Michigan State can lay claim. So also can the winner of the Wisconsin-Iowa game, which goes on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (PT).
The Hawkeyes currently are six-point college football betting favorites with the total at 48.
Wisconsin is off one of the biggest wins in the five-year head coaching career of Bret Bielema knocking off top-ranked Ohio State, 31-18, last Saturday as 3 ½-point home underdogs. The combined 49 points pushed on the total.
It was the first time since 1981 that Wisconsin defeated a No. 1 ranked team. It was the first time in five games, too, the Badgers covered versus a top 10 team under Bielema.
Things could be rougher this Saturday for 10th-ranked Wisconsin, which has won six of its seven games. The Badgers not only have to guard against a letdown, but they have to play at Kinnick Stadium, where they are 1-4 ATS in their last five visits.
Iowa has covered seven of the past eight times overall against the Badgers. Wisconsin has failed to break the 17-point barrier in four of their last five meetings versus the Hawkeyes.
Iowa has covered 11 of the last 14 times it has been a home favorite of between 3 ½ and 10 points. Wisconsin is 3-10 ATS in its last 13 road contests against a team with a winning home mark.
The 13th-ranked Hawkeyes, 5-1, have offensive balance with the passing of Ricky Stanzi and running of Adam Robinson to go with a phenomenal defensive front.
The Hawkeyes recorded four sacks and intercepted three Scott Tolzien passes in defeating the Badgers, 20-10, last year as two-point road ‘dogs. Iowa held Wisconsin to 87 rushing yards and 230 total yards. The combined 30 points went ‘under’ the 46 ½-point total.
Stanzi helped lead Iowa past Wisconsin two years ago, 38-16. The Hawkeyes were 5 ½-point home favorites with the combined 54 points going ‘over’ the 41-point total. The Badgers rolled up 409 yards, but only managed one touchdown. Stanzi has completed 68 percent of his passes with no interceptions in two games versus Wisconsin.
Stanzi, 22-5 as a starter, figures to test a Wisconsin secondary that ranks 70th in passing efficiency. Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins completed 20-of-29 passes against the Badgers for 269 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-24 home win on Oct. 2.
Sparked by tailback John Clay, Wisconsin is the 12th-best rushing team in the nation averaging 232.7 yards on the ground. The Badgers are averaging 36.3 points per game, 16th-best in the country.
Clay has rushed for 796 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Tolzien has completed 70.9 percent of his passes for 1,353 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions. The Badgers have one of the best offensive lines in the country led by senior Gabe Carimi, a top pro prospect. Lance Kendricks also gives Wisconsin one of the best tight ends in the country.
Iowa, though, has won its last eight games by double-digits. The Hawkeyes are allowing just 13.7 points per game, which rates sixth best in the nation. The Hawkeyes are seventh nationally against the run giving up 83.3 yards per game and 13th in total defense at 288.8 yards per contest.
The Hawkeyes did have trouble last week containing Michigan, which put up 522 yards. Iowa came up with four turnovers in winning, 38-28, as 3 ½-point road favorites. The combined 66 points went ‘over’ the 53 ½-point total.
Wisconsin, though, does not employ a spread-option attack like Michigan. Instead, the Badgers run a conventional pro-style offense.
The weather report is for temperatures in the 50s with a 60 percent chance of showers.
So who’s the best team in the Big Ten Conference now that Wisconsin has knocked off Ohio State?
Michigan State can lay claim. So also can the winner of the Wisconsin-Iowa game, which goes on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (PT).
The Hawkeyes currently are six-point college football betting favorites with the total at 48.
Wisconsin is off one of the biggest wins in the five-year head coaching career of Bret Bielema knocking off top-ranked Ohio State, 31-18, last Saturday as 3 ½-point home underdogs. The combined 49 points pushed on the total.
It was the first time since 1981 that Wisconsin defeated a No. 1 ranked team. It was the first time in five games, too, the Badgers covered versus a top 10 team under Bielema.
Things could be rougher this Saturday for 10th-ranked Wisconsin, which has won six of its seven games. The Badgers not only have to guard against a letdown, but they have to play at Kinnick Stadium, where they are 1-4 ATS in their last five visits.
Iowa has covered seven of the past eight times overall against the Badgers. Wisconsin has failed to break the 17-point barrier in four of their last five meetings versus the Hawkeyes.
Iowa has covered 11 of the last 14 times it has been a home favorite of between 3 ½ and 10 points. Wisconsin is 3-10 ATS in its last 13 road contests against a team with a winning home mark.
The 13th-ranked Hawkeyes, 5-1, have offensive balance with the passing of Ricky Stanzi and running of Adam Robinson to go with a phenomenal defensive front.
The Hawkeyes recorded four sacks and intercepted three Scott Tolzien passes in defeating the Badgers, 20-10, last year as two-point road ‘dogs. Iowa held Wisconsin to 87 rushing yards and 230 total yards. The combined 30 points went ‘under’ the 46 ½-point total.
Stanzi helped lead Iowa past Wisconsin two years ago, 38-16. The Hawkeyes were 5 ½-point home favorites with the combined 54 points going ‘over’ the 41-point total. The Badgers rolled up 409 yards, but only managed one touchdown. Stanzi has completed 68 percent of his passes with no interceptions in two games versus Wisconsin.
Stanzi, 22-5 as a starter, figures to test a Wisconsin secondary that ranks 70th in passing efficiency. Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins completed 20-of-29 passes against the Badgers for 269 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-24 home win on Oct. 2.
Sparked by tailback John Clay, Wisconsin is the 12th-best rushing team in the nation averaging 232.7 yards on the ground. The Badgers are averaging 36.3 points per game, 16th-best in the country.
Clay has rushed for 796 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Tolzien has completed 70.9 percent of his passes for 1,353 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions. The Badgers have one of the best offensive lines in the country led by senior Gabe Carimi, a top pro prospect. Lance Kendricks also gives Wisconsin one of the best tight ends in the country.
Iowa, though, has won its last eight games by double-digits. The Hawkeyes are allowing just 13.7 points per game, which rates sixth best in the nation. The Hawkeyes are seventh nationally against the run giving up 83.3 yards per game and 13th in total defense at 288.8 yards per contest.
The Hawkeyes did have trouble last week containing Michigan, which put up 522 yards. Iowa came up with four turnovers in winning, 38-28, as 3 ½-point road favorites. The combined 66 points went ‘over’ the 53 ½-point total.
Wisconsin, though, does not employ a spread-option attack like Michigan. Instead, the Badgers run a conventional pro-style offense.
The weather report is for temperatures in the 50s with a 60 percent chance of showers.
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