The Heartland Line
Novig pricesWisconsin-Iowa Halloween clash set for 11 a.m. on Fox, but USC comes first for the Badgers
The Big Ten put Wisconsin at No. 15 Iowa on Oct. 31 at 11 a.m. CT on Fox. Both teams have a game to play first, and the Badgers' is against No. 16 USC.
The Heartland Trophy game has a time slot. The Big Ten announced Monday that Wisconsin will visit No. 15 Iowa at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m. CT, with Fox carrying the game, Wisconsin Badgers On SI reported.
The early window is a change from the rivalry's recent pattern. Wisconsin Badgers On SI noted that the last two meetings kicked off at night. Iowa Hawkeyes On SI called the noon-Eastern slot a return to the series' traditional home after Iowa's recent run of afternoon and prime-time placements. Both teams are 2-1 in conference play, according to On3's Badger Blitz. That outlet also reported that the Hawkeyes have won four straight in the series, their longest streak since 1985-92, and that Wisconsin's narrow all-time lead now sits at 49-48-2. The Badgers' last win over Iowa came in 2021.
For Luke Fickell, now in his fourth season, the date carries weight. Wisconsin Badgers On SI described a scenario where the Badgers lose to USC this weekend and arrive in Iowa City on a two-game skid, with no other statement opportunity left on the schedule. In that case, the outlet suggested, Fickell might need to win out to keep his job. Iowa, meanwhile, is mixing in a second quarterback. Kirk Ferentz has not committed to Hank Brown or Jeremy Hecklinski. Brown has thrown for 832 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Hecklinski started at Washington and went 14 of 19 for 202 yards and three scores. The defense remains the usual Iowa defense, ranking top-10 nationally in scoring defense and against the run, per the same report.
What it means this weekend
Before Halloween, both teams have a game that could change how this one looks. Wisconsin (4-2) hosts No. 16 USC on NBC after a 17-7 loss at No. 12 UCLA. The Badgers' season has swung both ways. They lost 41-13 to Notre Dame in the opener, then won at No. 13 Penn State 24-20 and beat Michigan State 31-3. USC (6-1) is coming off a 31-23 win at Penn State, and its only loss came against Oregon.
On this site's USC-Wisconsin board, 11 venues have the Trojans favored by 2.5. Novig prices USC at -138 on the moneyline and Wisconsin at +130. The best Badgers moneyline anywhere is +135 at theScore Bet. On the spread, Novig has Wisconsin +2.5 at +120, while Pinnacle offers +3 at -109. The total is 49.5 at Novig and FanDuel alike, and sportsbook hold runs from 3.3% to 7.0% depending on the market.
Iowa (5-1) heads to Minnesota on FS1. The Hawkeyes beat Washington 41-24 last time out, and their only loss came against Ohio State. On the Iowa-Minnesota board, Iowa is favored at -245 on Novig's moneyline. Novig lists the Hawkeyes -7.5 at +111, and theScore Bet has the shortest number at -6.5 for -115. The total is 41.5 at Novig and 40.5 at FanDuel, which fits a team that has held three opponents to 13 points or fewer.
If both favorites win, Wisconsin goes to Kinnick at 4-3 on a two-game losing streak, and Iowa arrives at 6-1 with its playoff hopes intact. A Badgers upset of USC would make the Halloween game a much more even matchup.