The Iowa Hawkeyes take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, OH. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on FS1.
Ohio State is favored by 7.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -340. The total is set at 155.5 points.
Here’s my Iowa vs. Ohio State predictions and college basketball picks for January 27, 2025.
Iowa vs Ohio State Prediction
My Pick: Iowa +8 (Play to +7)
My Iowa vs Ohio State best bet is on the Hawkeyes spread, with the best odds currently available at Caesars. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Iowa vs Ohio State Odds, Lines, Pick
| Iowa Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 155.5 -110o / -110u | +270 |
| Ohio State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 155.5 -112o / -108u | -340 |
- Iowa vs Ohio State spread: Ohio State -7.5
- Iowa vs Ohio State over/under: 155.5 points
- Iowa vs Ohio State moneyline: Ohio State -340, Iowa +270
- Iowa vs Ohio State best bet: Iowa +8 (Play to +7)
My Iowa vs Ohio State College Basketball Betting Preview
The key aspect of any Iowa game is whether the Hawkeyes can manage to get any stops. Their defense has long been their weakness under Fran McCaffery, with the interior and the glass being particularly shaky this season.
Fortunately, those aren't huge areas of strength for the Buckeyes. Ohio State is merely an average rebounding team, and it ranks 14th in the Big Ten in 2-point percentage offense.
In general, the Buckeyes land a measly 16th in the conference in offensive efficiency against league foes, so Iowa’s flaws are let off the hook.
That should allow Iowa’s offense to shine and keep this game close. Ohio State’s defense has preyed on poor shooting from its opponents; per ShotQuality, foes would be expected to be shooting 4.8% better from beyond the arc and 4.1% better from the mid-range.
Iowa’s lethal attack is the perfect opponent for that regression to manifest.
The Hawkeyes rank ninth in the entire country in 3-point percentage. Four players in the rotation shoot 39.6% or better from deep, and that doesn't include deadly wing Payton Sandfort, the team’s most potent perimeter threat.
Iowa’s first trip west was a nightmare, but a narrow two-point loss at Michigan shows that McCaffery’s squad can compete away from home.
This spread is too big, and I think the Hawkeyes’ offensive fireworks will give them a chance to win.
