Forty pounds of Iowa pork and a Corvette windbreaker are on the line for Gov. Steve Beshear and Iowa Gov. Chet Culver.

Friday’s men’s basketball game between the 12th-seeded Toppers and the fifth-seeded Drake Bulldogs provoked the wager between the two governors, each espousing confidence in their teams on their Web sites.

“My wife, Jane, and I are looking forward to a number of pork dinners in the near future,” Beshear stated.

“I look forward to presenting coach Keno Davis with a new windbreaker as a reminder of an incredible season,” Culver stated.

Athletics Director Wood Selig said it’s common for state governors to wager against each other on the success of their state’s teams.

Although the Bulldog’s are among about 44 teams favored over the Toppers by the basketball committee, Selig said he feels confident the teams are evenly matched for tomorrow.

However, he said he thinks to the victor should go the spoils.

“I’ll expect the governor would invite the men’s basketball team to share in the pork at a barbecue,” Selig said. “After all, they were responsible for earning those 40 pounds.”

If the Toppers win, Beshear will get 40 pounds of premium Berkshire pork. If the Bulldogs win, Culver will get a Corvette collectable windbreaker from the Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant.

The game will take place at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the St. Petersburg Times Forum in Tampa, Fla.

Reach Holly Brown at news@chherald.com.