Iowa's Halloween weekend demolition of Wisconsin continues to ripple through the Big Ten, with oddsmakers now installing the battered Badgers as a 17.5-point home favorite over Rutgers despite the worst loss of the Luke Fickell era.
The Hawkeyes blanked Wisconsin 30-0 on Nov. 1 in Iowa City, handing the Badgers their first shutout loss of the season and knocking them out of the AP Top 25 just one week after they had climbed into the rankings, according to Yahoo Sports.
Wisconsin's Wild Two-Week Swing
The contrast between the Badgers' last two games could hardly be starker. One week before the Iowa debacle, Wisconsin upset then-No. 16 USC at home, its second top-20 win of the season, and briefly looked like a contender in the Big Ten race. Then came the trip to Kinnick Stadium, and a fan base that was dreaming big is now, according to Sports Illustrated, debating changes everywhere from head coach to offensive coordinator to starting quarterback.
Wisconsin sits at 5-3 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play heading into Week 10. The Badgers beat Western Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State and USC, with losses to Notre Dame, UCLA and Iowa.
Why Vegas Still Likes the Badgers
Here is the strange part: even after a 30-0 humiliation, USA Today reports that oddsmakers expect a blowout in Madison when Rutgers visits on Saturday. FanDuel Sportsbook listed Wisconsin as a 17.5-point home favorite, a number that says more about Rutgers than it does about the Badgers.
The Scarlet Knights arrive at 2-6, with their only wins coming against FCS Howard and a struggling Maryland team. Rutgers opened the season as one of the laughingstocks of college football by losing to UMass, a program that did not win a single game the previous year. The Scarlet Knights did show some fight last week, though, covering the spread in a 28-21 loss to Michigan.
What Iowa's Win Means for the Hawkeyes
For Iowa fans, the Wisconsin result is the kind of statement win that defines seasons. Shutting out a ranked Big Ten rival, one fresh off an upset of USC, is a resume builder with real weight as November football arrives. Bowl positioning, conference standings and national perception all shift in the Hawkeyes' favor.
The shutout also reinforced what has long been true in Iowa City: when the Hawkeyes' defense is clicking, they can erase anyone on the schedule. Wisconsin's offense never found a rhythm, and the Badgers left town with more questions than answers.
Rutgers Brings Talent, but Not Much Else
Rutgers is not without weapons. Tailback Antwan Raymond has racked up 893 total yards and seven touchdowns, and receiver KJ Duff has 45 catches for 774 yards and nine scores. Two legitimate NFL-caliber skill players give the Scarlet Knights the ability to put points on the board.
The problems are everywhere else. Rutgers ranks No. 123 in the nation in total defense, a number that explains why opponents have moved the ball at will all season. At quarterback, starter Dylan Lonergan, who is questionable with a head injury, has completed under 60 percent of his passes. His backup, AJ Surace, completed just 3 of 12 passes for 123 yards against Michigan.
The result is a team that, as Sports Illustrated put it, cannot stop anybody but can certainly put up some points. Wisconsin, for all its troubles, should be able to score on a defense ranked near the bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision.
What to Watch in Week 10
The stakes for Wisconsin are clear. At 5-3, the Badgers need one more win to reach bowl eligibility, and a soft closing stretch gives them every opportunity. But nothing feels guaranteed for a program coming off a shutout loss that has fans calling for sweeping changes.
For Iowa, the Week 10 result matters in a different way. A Wisconsin team playing with confidence down the stretch could complicate the Big Ten race; a Wisconsin team in free fall only clears the path. Hawkeye fans will be watching Madison closely on Saturday, and early odds suggest they will like what they see, at least on the scoreboard.
Betting markets beyond sportsbooks are weighing in as well. On3 reported that Polymarket has posted odds on the Wisconsin-Rutgers matchup, adding another angle for fans tracking the Week 10 slate.
FAQ
What was the score of the Iowa-Wisconsin game?
Iowa defeated Wisconsin 30-0 on Nov. 1 in Iowa City, handing the Badgers their first shutout loss of the 2025 season.
How much does Wisconsin favor over Rutgers in Week 10?
FanDuel Sportsbook listed Wisconsin as a 17.5-point home favorite over Rutgers despite the Badgers' blowout loss at Iowa.
Why did Wisconsin drop out of the AP Top 25?
Wisconsin fell out of the rankings after its 30-0 loss to Iowa, one week after entering the poll following its upset of then-No. 16 USC.