The Iowa Hawkeyes take on the Utah State Aggies in Kansas City, MO, as part of the Hall of Fame Classic. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
The Hawkeyes are favored by 1.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -130. The total is set at 167.
Here’s my Iowa vs. Utah State predictions and college basketball picks for November 22, 2024.
Iowa vs Utah State Prediction
My Pick: Iowa -1.5
My Iowa vs Utah State best bet is on the Hawkeyes spread, with the best odds currently available at BetMGM. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Iowa vs Utah State Odds
| Iowa Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -115 | 167.5 -110 / -110 | -130 |
| Utah State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -105 | 167.5 -110 / -110 | +105 |
- Iowa vs Utah State spread: Iowa -1.5
- Iowa vs Utah State over/under: 167.5 points
- Iowa vs Utah State moneyline: Iowa -130, Utah State +105
- Iowa vs Utah State best bet: Iowa -1.5
Spread
I'm on the Hawkeyes on the spread.
Moneyline
I'm avoiding the moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm passing on the total.
My Pick: Iowa -1.5
Iowa vs Utah State College Basketball Betting Preview
Iowa and Utah State meet in Kansas City for a match that should be high octane and high scoring, as the sky-high total suggests. Both squads rank in the top 25 nationally in adjusted offensive tempo (KenPom), and both rank above the 91st percentile in possessions used in transition, per Synergy.
This will be Utah State’s first game away from Logan this season, which is especially notable given it's led by a new head coach in Jerrod Calhoun. The Aggies brought back program vets Ian Martinez and Mason Falslev from last season, but they still have plenty of new pieces they are still integrating.
Facing Iowa in an environment that should be heavily Hawkeye friendly will be a tough assignment.
Iowa technically has one game under its belt away from home, but it was about an hour down the road in Davenport. Unlike Utah State, Iowa has most of its team back from last season, led by All-Big Ten hopefuls Payton Sandfort and Owen Freeman.
Utah State has been cutting teams to death in the half-court, getting to the rim often and finishing at an elite rate. Per CBB Analytics, the Aggies rank in the 96th percentile in field goal attempt rate at the rim and in the 82nd percentile in field goal percentage.
That’s bad news for an Iowa squad that has allowed among the highest rate of rim attempts in the country this season. The Hawkeyes have been bludgeoned near the hoop, and their numbers guarding cuts this season are poor, per Synergy.
Iowa, too, finishes well at the bucket on offense, but it’s far more 3-point reliant than Utah State. As is typical for an Iowa squad, this roster is chock full of outside shooters.
Pryce Sandfort and Josh Dix are well over 40% from deep on the year, and there’s about five or six other Hawkeyes ready and willing to fire from distance. The Aggies have been so-so guarding the arc this season, but this is the first opponent they have seen that can actually shoot.
Both teams have excelled stopping transition in the early season, albeit largely against inferior competition. Iowa certainly looked more engaged defensively against Washington State. In fact, this is Fran McCaffery’s best defensive squad since 2016 thus far.
Utah State has taken a more laissez faire approach to the defensive end — an area where Calhoun hasn’t been great in — and forcing turnovers against awful ball handling teams has contributed to its early success.
Points should be ample in this matchup, but there’s little value in taking the over on the 168 total. Instead, I will back the Hawkeyes in what should be a near-semi-home environment from a fan perspective.
This will be by far the best team Utah State has faced all season, and outside of Logan, the Aggies might look like a different team.
If Iowa can stand up to Utah State’s rim attack, it should be able to cover the short spread.
