Penn State at Wisconsin: Picks, Odds & Tips
Since winning the men’s NCAA hockey national championship in 2006, the Wisconsin Badgers have struggled to make the NCAA tournament on a consistent basis, let alone make a national championship game. Wisconsin has only six NCAA Tournament appearances since that last natty and has not advanced past the first round since 2010.
In the 2023-24 season, head coach Mike Hastings took over and found immediate success. Hastings led the Badgers to a 26-12-2 record, finishing 2nd in the Big Ten Conference. Despite losing to Quinnipiac in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Wisconsin was considered fixed. But a 13-21-3 record last year was a major disappointment. |
However, Hastings has the Badgers back on track with a strong start to the 2025-26 campaign.
Since 2017, the Penn State Nittany Lions have four NCAA Tournament appearances, including last year. Penn State made the 2025 Frozen Four, a landmark achievement for a program that was a virtual expansion team in 2013-14.
On Saturday night, the Badgers host the Nittany Lions in a Big Ten showdown with plenty of postseason implications.
Penn State at Wisconsin Preview
On Saturday, January 24, 2026, the Wisconsin Badgers will host the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Kohl Center in Madison, WI. Faceoff time is 8:30 p.m. ET with television coverage on BTN.
Public Betting Odds Factors
- The Badgers and Nittany Lions are tied for second place in the Big Ten standings behind the Michigan Wolverines.
- Big Ten Hockey gets more hockey betting attention than many of the other college leagues because of its quality of play.
- A showcase on BTN will draw significant betting traffic and viewership.
Penn State at Wisconsin Predictions
Handicapping Factors to Consider
- Guy Gadowsky of Penn State and Mike Hastings are two of the best coaches in college hockey with fundamentally sound programs.
- Wisconsin has a significant offensive advantage.
- Penn State lacks the firepower of the Badgers but does have a slight defensive advantage.
- Wisconsin will be highly motivated after getting swept at Michigan State in two games last week.
- Wisconsin has dominated its series recently with Penn State.
- Wisconsin has played its best hockey and been most profitable this season at home.
Penn State at Wisconsin Prime Best Bet: Wisconsin Badgers
Penn State at Wisconsin Betting Tips
Penn State Nittany Lions
- Last week, the Penn State Nittany Lions swept the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with wins of 4-1 and 6-3 on home ice.
- Penn State has a record of 16-6 and is 8-4 in the Big Ten.
- The Nittany Lions have scored 35 goals with 31 goals against.
- Penn State is 23.7% on the power play and is at 89.1% for penalty killing.
- Penn State is led by junior forward Matt DiMarsico (14 goals, 12 assists) and sophomore forward JJ Wiebusch (12 goals, 13 assists).
- The Penn State goalies are freshman Joshua Flemming (1.82 GAA, .943 save percentage) and sophomore Kevin Reider (2.92 GAA, .910 save percentage).
Wisconsin Badgers
- Last week, the Wisconsin Badgers were swept in road losses of 4-3 and 4-1 against the Michigan State Spartans.
- Wisconsin has a record of 15-5-2 and is 8-4 in the Big Ten.
- Wisconsin has scored 53 goals with 39 goals against.
- Wisconsin has a power play rate of 28% and is 79.7% on the penalty kill.
- The Badgers are led by junior forward Quinn Finley (10 goals, 9 assists) and senior forward Christian Fitzgerald (10 goals, 6 assists).
- Sophomore forward Gavin Morrissey adds three goals with 18 assists.
- Number one goalie Daniel Hauser, a freshman, is 13-3-2 with a 2.10 goals against average and a .913 save percentage.
Penn State at Wisconsin Head-to-Head and Key Stats
- Wisconsin is 7-1-1 at home this season.
- Penn State has dropped three of its last five away games.
- Wisconsin won seven of its last nine games against Penn State at the Kohl Center.
