Wisconsin (10-3) vs Iowa (10-3)
January 3, 2025 at 07:00 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: Wisconsin -4.5 / Iowa +4.5 — Over/Under:
The Iowa Hawkeyes and the Wisconsin Badgers meet Friday in college basketball action from Kohl Center. Here’s an Iowa vs Wisconsin prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Iowa vs Wisconsin pick. We will examine:
The Iowa Hawkeyes’ recent form and player performance
The Wisconsin Badgers’ recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Iowa Hawkeyes
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Wisconsin Badgers
Recent betting trends in games played between Iowa and Wisconsin
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Iowa vs Wisconsin game
Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview
Iowa managed a 5-0 run to start the 2024-25 season. The Hawkeyes’ victories during that time were versus East Texas A&M, Southern, South Dakota, Washington State, and Rider. A rough stretch of five games followed, as Iowa went just 2-3. The pair of wins came over South Carolina Upstate and Northwestern. Otherwise, it was losses to Utah State, Michigan, and Iowa State. Since then the Hawkeyes have gotten back on track with three straight wins. Those have come courtesy of New Orleans, Utah, and New Hampshire for a 10-3 record through 13 games.
Back on Monday versus New Hampshire, the Hawkeyes had very few issues. Iowa was up 62-33 by the break, then closed on a 50-37 run for a dominant blowout victory 112-70. Topping the scoring was Payton Sandfort with 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Both Seydou Traore (six assists; three rebounds) and Cooper Koch (three rebounds; three assists) scored 14 points off the bench, and Ladji Dembele added 12 points with four rebounds.
Wisconsin Badgers Betting Preview
Over on the Badgers’ side, they got off to a great start this year, winning each of their first eight games. Those victories came versus Holy Cross, Montana State, Appalachian State, Arizona, UTRGV, Central Florida, Pittsburgh, and Chicago State in succession. A string of three straight losses followed, however, as Wisconsin fell to Michigan, Marquette, and Illinois. Since then it’s been a pair of victories over Butler and Detroit Mercy, leaving the Badgers at 10-3 overall.
Way back on December 22 in their last appearance versus Detroit Mercy, the Badgers came out of the break with a 39-26 edge. Wisconsin closed on a 37-27 run for a 76-53 blowout win in the end. Nolan Winter was the leading team contributor with 18 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Steven Crowl added 15 points and four rebounds, while John Blackwell chipped in 12 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals in 26 minutes of work.
Why the Wisconsin Badgers will win
- Wisconsin has won 17 of its last 18 night games at Kohl Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
- Iowa has lost 12 of its last 14 road night games against Conference opponents.
- Iowa has lost the first half in four of its last five games against the Big Ten Conference.
Why the Iowa Hawkeyes will win
- Iowa has won 10 of its last 12 games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
- Wisconsin has lost each of its last three games against Conference opponents.
- Wisconsin has lost the first half in three of its last four night games.
Iowa vs Wisconsin Prediction
I’ll lean toward Iowa here. That said, we should have a pretty excellent matchup on our hands so you could make a case either way. The Hawkeyes dismantled a struggling New Hampshire team in their last outing, shooting a smooth 60.8 percent from the field with a 44-38 rebounding edge, 27 team assists, and just nine turnovers. If there was a blemish it was a rough performance from the line on 12-of-22 (54.5 percent) overall. Still, it was a nice-looking blowout win versus an overmatched opponent following a nine-day break.
Iowa is scoring quite well this year. They’ve got 80 or more points in seven straight games (a 5-2 run) and 76 or more in all 10 of their victories.
As for Wisconsin, they didn’t shoot particularly well in their last game versus Detroit, with 40.6 percent from the floor and just 7-of-35 (20 percent) from 3-point range. That said, the Badgers still rolled, thanks in part to a dominant 50-34 edge on the boards.
Wisconsin has posted 74 or more points in all but one game this season (64 versus Michigan in a loss) so we should see a high total here if both teams are on point.