West Virginia vs Iowa Odds
West Virginia (W) Odds | ||
---|---|---|
Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+15 -110 | 163.5 -110o / -110u | +800 |
Iowa (W) Odds | ||
---|---|---|
Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-15 -110 | 163.5 -110o / -110u | -1350 |
The Iowa Hawkeyes host the West Virginia Mountaineers for a spot in the Sweet 16 on Monday night in what will be Caitlin Clark’s last-ever home game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
With Clark and the Hawkeyes entering as a double-digit favorite, where does the value lie? Let's dive into the West Virginia vs. Iowa odds and make a pick for Monday's Women's NCAA Tournament game.
In the first round, the Mountaineers took some time to figure out a tough Princeton team and trailed, 26-24, at halftime. Out of the break, West Virginia put on a defensive clinic, forcing Princeton into 12 turnovers in the third quarter alone.
The Mountaineers' aggressive 1-2-2 scheme was working to perfection, and the advertised in-your-face defense delivered. West Virginia ranks fourth nationally in points allowed per 100 possessions and second in turnovers forced per game at 23.9.
Clark’s final tournament run got off to a rocky start in the first round against Holy Cross. She committed five turnovers in the first eight minutes and didn’t make her first field goal until the final 22 seconds of the quarter.
Iowa, a 36.5-point favorite, led by just two at the end of the quarter. But then, the rest of the Iowa Hawkeyes got cooking and outscored Holy Cross, 25-9, in the second frame.
Clark nearly finished with a triple-double ranking up 27 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. However, it wasn't her most efficient night. She shot 8-of-19 from the field, making three of her nine 3-point attempts.
West Virginia vs Iowa
Betting Pick & Prediction
There are a few ways to look at the game here.
From an Iowa standpoint, Clark has not played up to her usual standard for a few games, shooting 29% from the field and 27% from 3-point land over her last four. So, if anyone was due for an incredible night of buckets, it’s the greatest athlete in the history of the school in her last home game ever.
On the West Virginia side, the Mountaineers know they're underdogs. They're going to attack Iowa defensively with a scheme that's difficult to prepare for.
Iowa has all of the pressure, hasn't covered in the second round in the last two tournaments and even lost outright as a big favorite in the second round against Creighton in 2022.
West Virginia has guards who can produce offensively and the speed to run with Iowa if needed. But I think they do their best — at least initially — to frustrate Caitlin and the Iowa guards and make them play a slower-paced game.
I think we get some late-game heroics in the fourth quarter from Clark, but West Virginia keeps it somewhat close as we're treated to an epic game.