Wisconsin Fights for its Big Dance Life Against Iowa Wednesday  

On the whole, the Iowa Hawkeyes are given a 75% bracketology chance to make the NCAA Tournament.  And most fans and gamblers would be shocked if the Hawkeyes don’t get their ticket punched.  Head coach Fran McCaffery has not had trouble getting Iowa into the Big Dance.  Instead, his March Madness betting problem is getting the Hawkeyes past the second round.  But quality wins this season over the Clemson Tigers, Iowa State Cyclones, Indiana Hoosiers, Michigan Wolverines, Maryland Terrapins, Northwestern Wildcats, and Illinois Fighting Illini offer fans hope.  

Iowa vs. Wisconsin CashBet Wagering Analysis  

Although Iowa is a probable 2023 March Madness betting team, they can’t let up.  The Hawkeyes could get a poor seeding or bracket if they limp in from a bad conclusion.  Iowa is a respected brand, especially as a road team that can score plenty of points. Sharps will give the Hawkeyes serious consideration for that reason.

It is true that Wisconsin is having a poor season.  But their game against Iowa is a rivalry matchup.  Thus, the Badgers can be counted on for a full effort in this showdown.  Also, Wisconsin will get a good price because of its lack of success in 2022-23.  Remember that the Badgers beat a good Michigan team at Kohl Center last week. 

Iowa Defense Remains the Hawkeye Weakness

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 17-10 straight up, 15-12 against the spread, and 16-11 over/under the top online sportsbook total.  Overall, Iowa has national rankings of 22^nd for scoring offense, 108^th for field goal percentage, 179^th for 3-point field goal percentage, 83^rd for free throw percentage, and 75^th for offensive rebounding.  While on defense, Iowa has national rankings of 289^th for scoring defense, 330^th for field goal percentage permitted, 289^th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 267^th for defensive rebounding. 

Late on, Iowa failed to cover four of its previous five games.  Five of its last seven games went over the total.  Kris Murray leads the Hawkeyes with 20.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per contest.  As mentioned earlier, Iowa has never played much defense in the McCaffery era.  And that is what has been their downfall in March Madness.

Greg Gard Under Fire for Potentially Lost Season  

The Wisconsin Badgers are 15-11 straight up, 11-14-1 against the spread, and 13-13 over/under the bet on NCAA basketball total.  In sum, Wisconsin has national rankings of 334^th for scoring offense, 335^th for field goal percentage, 87^th for 3-point field goal percentage, 333^rd for free throw percentage, and 306^th for offensive rebounding.  While on defense, Wisconsin has national rankings of 31^st for scoring defense, 218^th for field goal percentage permitted, 162^nd for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 316^th for defensive rebounding.

Wisconsin dropped only two of its previous six games to the spread.  Also, five of its previous seven games went under the total.  Of major concern is Wisconsin dropped six of its previous nine games straight up.  The Badgers are led by Chucky Hepburn’s 12.5 points per game.  Steven Crowl adds 7.3 rebounds per contest. 

Since Greg Gard became head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, he led the Program to the NCAA Tournament in four of the last five years it was held.  Problematic is that he advanced past the second round only one time.

Starting with an 11-2 record and a national ranking of 14^th, Gard and the Badgers seemed to be in the hunt for big things.  But a stretch of eight losses in 11 games destroyed those hopes and put the Badgers NCAA Tournament hopes in doubt.  In fact, Wisconsin dropped from a near guaranteed Big Dance ticket punch to only a 33% bracketology shot as the week begins.

Iowa vs. Wisconsin CashBet Free Pick  

As was previously noted, this is a good 2023 March Madness Betting spot for Wisconsin.

Iowa vs. Wisconsin CashBet Best Bet

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