Badgers predictions: Game 5 vs. Iowa

By Dave Heller
Published

Yeah, we're done with the home nonconference (i.e. JV) schedule and onto the Big Ten.

An opener for No. 19 Wisconsin against 4-0 Iowa certainly is a tough matchup, regardless of records (or how they got that way, but that's another story).

There certainly is no consensus on who will win Saturday's game at Camp Randall Stadium, but the fact this game is in Madison is swinging the vote.

Here are this week's picks from around the web and Twitter:

The Associated Press' Ralph D. Russo: Wisconsin 27, Iowa 17.

Two of the three Big Ten Network analysts are picking Iowa to win. The scores: Tom Dienhart -- Wisconsin 21, Iowa 10; Sean Merriman -- Iowa 27, Wisconsin 24; Brent Yarina -- Iowa 23, Wisconsin 21.

The Athlon Sports analysts are back to picking scores (I guess the Week 4 games were that bad) and three of the four think the Badgers will win. The picks: David Fox, Iowa 28-21; Braden Gall, Wisconsin 31-30; Steven Lassan, Wisconsin 27-24; Mitch Light, Wisconsin 28-23.

Whatifsports.com simulation: An average score of Wisconsin 27.6, Iowa 24.2. The sim gives the Badgers a 63.9 percent chance of winning.

The Oklahoman's Berry Tramel: Iowa 24, Wisconsin 21. "National upset special. About once every three years, Iowa wins a game you think it has no chance of winning. Why not this Saturday?"

Five of the seven CBSSports.com analysts are picking Wisconsin to win. The rundown: Picking Wisconsin -- Dennis Dodd, Jon Soloman, Jerry Palm, Tom Fornelli and Robby Kalland.

Chris Vannini of Coachingsearch.com predicts Iowa 24, Wisconsin 20.

Four of the six ESPN.com Big Ten contributors picked Wisconsin to win.

By way of the PickCenter, Teamrankings.com has an average score of Wisconsin 24.7, Iowa 19.1 while numberFire has the average score Wisconsin 26.7, Iowa 17.87 (and also gives the Badgers a 58.5% likelihood of covering a 6-point spread).

Four of the seven analysts at USAToday.com pick Wisconsin to win.

Six of the seven of the analysts at CFB 24/7 are picking Wisconsin to win.

Six of eight analysts at The Sporting News are taking Wisconsin over Iowa.

Six of eight analysts at SI.com are predicting a Wisconsin victory.

Yahoo.com's Pat Forde and Graham Watson are split: Forde picks Wisconsin while Watson thinks Iowa will win.

Four of the five analysts at Lindy's Sports are picking Wisconsin while giving 7 points.

All seven writers at the Columbus Dispatch are picking Wisconsin to beat Iowa.

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