The Iowa Hawkeyes take on the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, Wis. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.
Iowa is favored by -3 points on the spread with a moneyline of -165. The total is set at 36.5 points.
Here’s my Iowa vs. Wisconsin predictions and college football picks for Saturday, October 11, 2025.
Iowa vs Wisconsin Prediction
- Iowa vs. Wisconsin Pick: Iowa -3
My Wisconsin vs. Iowa best bet is on Iowa to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Iowa vs Wisconsin Odds
| Iowa Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -110 | 36.5 -110o / -110u | -165 |
| Wisconsin Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -110 | 36.5 -110o / -110u | +140 |
- Iowa vs Wisconsin point spread: Iowa -3
- Iowa vs Wisconsin over/under: 36.5 points
- Iowa vs Wisconsin moneyline: Iowa -165, Wisconsin +140
Iowa vs Wisconsin Preview
Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview: Hawkeyes Are Soaring
In all of my years betting Iowa unders, I never thought I’d see a Kirk Ferentz team have a top-20 offense.
Perhaps I’m exaggerating a little bit, but our buddy Ferentz at least has caught the eye of PFF, which has the Hawkeyes ranked 18th on offense and 13th on defense in its power rankings.
Not only that, they’ve hit the over in three of the five matchups they’ve played in.
Iowa still runs the ball at a top-10 rate, but the difference is that its Passing Down Rate is 14th, which is twilight zone-esque.
Mark Gronowski has been a beauty so far in his FBS debut, but he suffered a knee injury on Sept. 27 against Indiana. However, according to Ferentz, it’s trending toward him playing, which could be huge for the Hawks.
If not, it’ll be Hank Brown, who isn’t quite ready for the big time just yet after completing only 38% of the 13 passes he's thrown, including an interception.
Luckily, whoever takes the snaps will have the luxury of throwing to Sam Phillips, Jacob Gill and Dayton Howard.
Of course, the defense is nothing to sneeze at. Even though Ferentz has adapted to a little offense here and there, that doesn’t mean the defense has taken a step back. It’s ranked 23rd in the country in points per game allowed.
Wisconsin Badgers Betting Preview: Digging Themselves into a Hole
I regret to inform Badger fans that your program may be cooked this season.
Wisconsin started out 2-0 against two below-average programs in Miami (OH) and Middle Tennessee, and then went through the gauntlet in facing Alabama, Maryland and Michigan.
Not only that, in a Luke Fickell masterclass, the Badgers decided to bench Danny O’Neil, who even though he's been rather turnover prone, has actually been a quality quarterback to come in for Billy Edwards Jr.
In place of O’Neil was Hunter Simmons, the third-string grad transfer from Southern Illinois. It ultimately resulted in Wisconsin getting smacked by Michigan 24-10.
I thought that was a horrible move because it signals to your team that you’re desperate.
O’Neil hasn’t been bad, and this program isn’t really built to succeed. So for O’Neil to do what he’s done so far this season, you need to give him a little grace.
Fickell did not.
With a middling defense, and a mostly ineffective run game, it’s hard to imagine that Wisconsin will win another game. After this week, the Badgers have Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota.
Iowa vs Wisconsin Pick, Betting Analysis
Iowa isn’t the perfect program by any means. That said, it’s in infinitely better shape than its counterparts.
Wisconsin is a mess, and the benching of O’Neil only furthers that point.
Putting your faith in a third-string grad transfer from an FCS school should tell you all you need to know. He’s there when your two quarterbacks get hurt – not when you need a spark.
There’s also a chance that Brown starts for Iowa. I don’t think it’ll happen; I think Gronowski starts, but you need to prepare for that instance as well.
But if Gronowski is confirmed as the starter, it shouldn’t be a question.
I like the Hawkeyes to cover here.
Pick: Iowa -3
