The Iowa Hawkeyes take on the Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston, IL. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET on FS1.
Northwestern is favored by 4.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -205. The total is set at 151.5 points.
Here are my Iowa vs. Northwestern predictions and college basketball picks for February 28, 2025.
Iowa vs Northwestern Prediction
My Pick: Iowa +4.5 (Play to PK)
My Iowa vs Northwestern best bet is on the Hawkeyes spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Iowa vs Northwestern Odds
| Iowa Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -112 | 151.5 -108 / -112 | +170 |
| Northwestern Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -108 | 151.5 -108 / -112 | -205 |
- Iowa vs Northwestern spread: Northwestern -4.5
- Iowa vs Northwestern over/under: 151.5 points
- Iowa vs Northwestern moneyline: Northwestern -205, Iowa +170
- Iowa vs Northwestern best bet: Iowa +4.5 (Play to PK)
Spread
I'm going with Iowa to cover the spread.
Moneyline
I think Iowa will win this straight up, but I feel more comfortable taking the 4.5 points.
Over/Under
I don't have a pick on the over/under.
My Pick: Iowa +4.5 (Play to PK)
Iowa vs Northwestern College Basketball Betting Preview
A pair of Big Ten teams with identical records collide when Iowa (15-13, 6-11) visits Northwestern (15-13, 6-11).
Josh Dix's buzzer-beating 3-pointer gave Iowa a narrow 80-79 victory vs. Northwestern in the first meeting on Dec. 3.
In its last game, Iowa's explosive offense was limited to a season-low in points during a 81-61 loss at Illinois.
Meanwhile, Northwestern bounced back from a three-game skid with back-to-back road victories at Ohio State and Minnesota.
Iowa's offense is 13th nationally in field goal percentage (49%) and 16th in points per game (83.1). The Hawkeyes are extremely unselfish and smart with the ball, as they're fourth nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.80) and fifth in assists (18.3).
Iowa is 10-2 when it converts at least 50% of its shots.
Meanwhile, Northwestern has a solid defense, ranking fourth in the Big Ten in points allowed (69.4).
However, Dix and Payton Sandfort will tough to handle. The duo is averaging 34.2 points in February.
Dix is one of the top shooting guards in the nation, draining 51.6% of his field goals. Sandfort is a deadly 3-point shooter (258 for his career) and is just four treys away from setting the all-time Iowa record.
Northwestern is 11-4 at home but has dropped three of its last four at Welsh Ryan Arena. Northwestern's defense will test Iowa, but the Hawkeyes won't have another sluggish offensive performance.
Iowa is the worst in the Big Ten in points allowed (79.5), but Northwestern is a poor offensive team at 16th in the conference in points (73.5).
Iowa will provide just enough defensive resistance to make a difference.
The Hawkeyes will cover the spread and come away with the road victory.
