Wisconsin Badgers vs Iowa Hawkeyes NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 2/8/25
Looking to win big? The Badgers and Hawkeyes face off at 1:00 ET on NBC. The Hawkeyes are hosting the game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, IA. Wisconsin is favored by -3.5 in this Big Ten conference contest against Iowa. The game’s over/under currently sits at 163.5 points.
WISCONSIN BADGERS VS IOWA HAWKEYES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Iowa Hawkeyes +3.5
This game will be played at Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 1:00 ET on Saturday, February 8th.
WHY BET THE IOWA HAWKEYES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-69 in favor of the Hawkeyes.
- Not only will Iowa pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +3.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 163.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.
Is a Road Win Possible for Wisconsin?
Wisconsin improved to 18-5 on the season with a 76-64 win over Indiana on Tuesday. The Badgers were favored by nine points and covered the spread at home. The game’s total points of 140 fell short of the 152.5 O/U line.
Wisconsin took control early, leading 40-28 at halftime. Both teams scored 36 points in the second half, but the Badgers’ strong first half was enough to secure the win.
In their recent game, Wisconsin’s offense put up 76 points, shooting 43.3% from the field and 41.4% from beyond the arc, hitting 12 threes on 29 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage stood at 53.3%, with a 45.2% success rate on two-point shots.
The Badgers also connected on 70.6% of their free throws, going 12-for-17 from the line. Mackenzie Mgbako and John Tonje each contributed 15 points, while Max Klesmit added 13 points and dished out 6 assists.
Wisconsin’s defense gave up 64 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 43% from the field, connecting on 26 of 60 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 14 of 31 shots to fall, a 45% rate.
From three-point range, Wisconsin’s opponents hit 12 of 29 attempts, shooting 41%. They also went 12/17 from the free-throw line, making 70% of their foul shots. Wisconsin gave up 8 offensive rebounds.
Can the Hawkeyes Pull Out the Win as Home Underdogs?
Iowa Hawkeyes Recent Game
Iowa’s season record dropped to 13-9 after a 90-81 home loss to Purdue on Tuesday. The Hawkeyes entered the game as +6.5 underdogs and didn’t cover the spread.
After a 36-36 tie at halftime, Iowa allowed 54 points in the 2nd half while scoring 45. The total points of 171 exceeded the over/under line of 155.5.
Iowa’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their latest game, putting up 81 points with a field goal percentage of 51.7% and an effective field goal percentage of 62.1%. They were particularly strong inside, hitting 67.9% of their two-point attempts, while connecting on 36.7% from beyond the arc, making 11 threes in total.
Braden Smith was a standout performer, scoring 31 points on 11-of-15 shooting, including 5-of-7 from three-point range. He also added 6 rebounds and 4 assists. The Hawkeyes finished with 19 assists as a team, with Payton Sandfort contributing 5 assists to go along with his 23 points and 5 made threes.
Despite Iowa’s defensive struggles, giving up 90 points on 51% shooting, they allowed 11 threes on 30 attempts (36%). At the free-throw line, their opponent shot 62%, hitting 10 of 16.
Inside the arc, Iowa’s defense was vulnerable, with their opponent shooting 67% (19/28) on two-point attempts. The Hawkeyes gave up 7 offensive rebounds in the game.