The Wisconsin Badgers travel to Iowa City to face the Iowa Hawkeyes in a Week 9 matchup, with oddsmakers setting the total at 36.5 points and Wisconsin looking to win their first game against Iowa in five years. The Badgers enter the contest following a 24-7 win over USC, while the Hawkeyes dropped a 13-10 decision to Minnesota.
Can Wisconsin Run Against Iowa’s Defense?
Moving the football on the ground will present a stiff challenge for the Badgers. Against USC, Wisconsin managed to churn out first downs and control the clock despite limited efficiency in the run game, holding the Trojans under two yards per carry outside of sacks. Jeff Grimes must find creative ways to open up the run game using Abu Sama and Bryan Jackson.
On the opposing sideline, Dillon Graff observed that Kirk Ferentz’s teams make opponents earn every yard through disciplined, physical play. The Badgers have lost three straight meetings to Iowa under Luke Fickell, getting outscored 94-16 in those contests.
How Will Iowa Score Without Kamari Moulton?
The Hawkeyes must play this rivalry game without starting running back Kamari Moulton, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season. While Iowa’s peripheral statistics in the run game look sound, their actual output has grown inconsistent. Wisconsin’s run defense enters this contest playing at an elite level, meaning Mike Tressel’s unit will focus heavily on stopping the ground attack, especially if the Badgers deploy nickel formations against Iowa’s heavier sets.
Christian Borman noted that Iowa has battled offensive struggles for years, relying instead on a top-tier defense to keep scores low. With both teams leaning on their defenses, generating explosive plays will prove exceptionally difficult.
Why Are Betting Lines Favoring Wisconsin?
Market trends point toward a tightening matchup at Kinnick Stadium. FanDuel lines have consistently tracked toward Wisconsin throughout the week, shifting the Badgers from initial underdogs to narrow favorites, while the total points line dropped from 39.5 down to 36.5. Nearly two-thirds of fans polled in weekly projections expect Wisconsin to secure the upset and reclaim the Heartland Trophy, which hasn’t been in Madison since 2021.
When and Where to Watch
The game kicks off at 11:00 a.m. Central Time on Big Noon Kickoff as Wisconsin attempts to move to 6-2 on the season.
