The Iowa Hawkeyes (11-3, 1-2 Big Ten) visit the No. 23 Wisconsin Badgers (11-2, 2-1) Thursday at the Kohl Center for a 9 p.m. tip-off (on FS1). Below, we look at the Iowa vs. Wisconsin odds and lines and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Iowa enters on a four-game win streak, recently beating Maryland 80-75 Monday but failing to cover as a 9.5-point home favorite. The Hawkeyes opened the season 7-0, dropped their next three – including Big Ten losses at now-No. 3 Purdue and home to Illinois – before their four-game run.
Led by G Johnny Davis‘ career-high 37 points, Wisconsin is coming of a 74-69 upset at Purdue Monday. Davis, who also finished with 14 rebounds and 2 blocked shots, helped the 13-point underdog Badgers win in West Lafayette for the first time in six tries. They have won three in a row since a 73-55 loss at now-No. 12 Ohio State Dec. 11.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Iowa at Wisconsin odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Iowa +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Wisconsin -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Iowa +2.5 (-112) | Wisconsin -2.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 145.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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ATS records: Iowa 9-5 | Wisconsin 8-5
O/U records: Iowa 10-3-1 | Wisconsin 8-5
Iowa at Wisconsin odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Wisconsin 69, Iowa 64
Money line
PASS. Instead of paying the -145 juice on the Badgers, I prefer to lay the points below.
Against the spread
WISCONSIN -2.5 (-108) is the STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager.
Most of Iowa’s victories came against cupcakes. When the Hawkeyes faced better competition, they went 2-3.
Iowa beat Virginia and Maryland and lost to Purdue, Illinois and No. 11 Iowa State.
The Badgers fit into the “better competition” category. They have impressive non-conference victories over Texas A&M (12-2), No. 14 Houston (13-2) and Saint Mary’s (12-3)
Plus, Wisconsin is tough at home, where it is 6-1 this season. The one loss was to 5-point underdog Providence in the third game of the season.
The Hawkeyes are 1-2 on the road, including 0-2 in the conference.
All signs point to WISCONSIN -2.5 (-108).
Over/Under
Bet UNDER 145.5 (-107) to WIN A HALF UNIT.
While the Hawkeyes are a high-scoring squad, averaging 87.4 points per game (PPG) to rank second in the country, there’s just something about playing the Badgers, who surrender 63.6 PPG.
Iowa only scored 62 points in a 5-point home win vs. Wisconsin last March. In the Hawkeyes’ last three trips to Madison, they scored 77, 45 and 59 while going 1-2.
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| JOHNNY’S RECORD | W-L | SP | ROI |
| Since July 8 | 90-65 | 36-25 | +18.895 |
| *–SP: Strongest plays; ROI: Return on investment | |||
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