Ohio State vs. Iowa Odds
| Ohio State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -114 | 153.5 -106o / -114u | +245 |
| Iowa Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -106 | 153.5 -106o / -114u | -310 |
It's safe to say that the Ohio State Buckeyes are in a rut. They come into this matchup having lost 11 of their last 12 games.
However, the one victory was over Thursday's opponent, the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Speaking of the Hawkeyes, they have faired well as of late. Fran McCaffery's club comes in having won four of its last five games. However, to keep this stretch alive, the Hawkeyes must make considerable adjustments in this second meeting.
Let's dive in and see which team will take round two of this Big Ten clash, and by the end, we'll also uncover the best bet for this matchup.
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes have been roughed up in conference play, but this may be the time to buy low on them, as they have quite a few edges on the offensive end of the floor.
Where they will be able to do the most damage is from mid-range. The Hawkeyes have allowed their opposition to shoot 41% on farther 2s this season.
That plays right into the strengths of leading scorer Brice Sensabaugh.
Sensabaugh comes in averaging 16.4 points per game, and he was the biggest factor in the first meeting. He posted a season-high 27 points as he went 10-of-12 from the field.
Given the Hawkeyes' issues inside the arc and on the glass, we should expect the Buckeyes to have multiple guys make significant contributions in this matchup.
Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes have more than held their own in the Big Ten this year, and have plenty of impressive victories to prove it. However, even when they have dropped games, the offense has not been the issue.
Iowa comes into this matchup sixth in adjusted efficiency on the offensive end of the floor, as it possesses a unique combination of skill and speed.
The best example of that is the Hawkeyes' leading scorer Kris Murray.
Murray has been dynamite this season, ranking 14th in the country in points per game and 64th in rebounding. He possesses the ability to make shots from everywhere, and his scoring prowess should be on full display with the Hawkeyes' edges both beyond the arc and in the paint.
Iowa has a drastic size advantage, and that will help its top-scoring options get high-percentage looks in the paint.
Both Murray and Filip Rebraca have made over 66% of their shots from close range.
Ohio State vs. Iowa Betting Pick
This is a game to watch if you like offense, and if you need proof, look at the final score of the first meeting — Ohio State won 93-77.
Both sides should execute at a high rate once again, but that equal amount of success points to a much tighter game than the market expects.
Despite losing by 16 in the first meeting, the Hawkeyes opened as 6.5-point favorites for this matchup. While each team will adjust from the first meeting, Ohio State still has more avenues to score than Iowa.
This is the perfect spot for Ohio State to get it going again, and it should — at the minimum — challenge the Hawkeyes in this matchup.
Back the Buckeyes to cover as underdogs.
Pick: Ohio State +7.5 (Play to +6) |
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