Wisconsin football enters its Week 7 rivalry matchup against Iowa in a familiar position: as an underdog.
The Badgers currently sit at No. 54 and No. 66 in ESPN’s Football Power Index and SP+, respectively, while Iowa ranks No. 35 and No. 38. Those two respective rating systems aren’t the only ones that forecast Iowa as a favorite: the current Las Vegas betting line is tilted toward the Hawkeyes.
The sentiment makes sense. Wisconsin has yet to register a win over a Power Four team this season. It has lost all three games against such opponents, including recent 27-10 and 24-10 losses to Big Ten foes Maryland and Michigan, respectively. While Iowa is just 3-2 through five games, its two losses have come by narrow margins against Iowa State and Indiana, respectively.
Iowa has been the far better team through six weeks. It also carries a three-game winning streak against Wisconsin into Saturday’s matchup, one that includes a 42-10 triumph last season.
As the days count down until the two teams kick off, here is FPI’s current projection for the contest.
ESPN’s Football Power Index projects Wisconsin vs. Iowa
Forecast: Iowa 62.6% chance to win, Wisconsin 37.4%
The Badgers and Hawkeyes will kick off from Camp Randall Stadium at 7 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. CT on Saturday evening. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1.
Watch Wisconsin vs. Iowa on FS1
Wisconsin football vs. Iowa betting odds, money line, over/under
Odds courtesy of FanDuel
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: ESPN’s Football Power Index projects Wisconsin’s Week 7 game vs Iowa
Reporting by Ben Kenney, Badgers Wire / Badgers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
