# Penn State at Wisconsin: Picks, Odds & Tips

> Penn State at Wisconsin betting preview with odds, power play stats, trends, and Prime Best Bet for Saturday’s Big Ten clash.

Published 2026-01-21 · Updated 2026-04-21 · By [Rock Westfall](https://www.primesportsbook.com/author/rockwestfall/)

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](https://www.primesportsbook.com/sports/hockey/nhl/) 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.

Source: https://www.primesportsbook.com/gaming-insider/penn-state-at-wisconsin-picks-odds-tips/