College Basketball Betting: Iowa at Wisconsin
A key matchup in the Big Ten between Top 25 teams highlights the Tuesday night college hoops schedule. The No. 25 Iowa Hawkeyes travel to the Kohl Center to face No. 6 Wisconsin as both battle for the top spot in the conference. The Badgers haven’t lost at home since falling to Duke on December 3. Iowa is 2-3 versus Top 25 competition, including a 71-65 victory at Ohio State back on December 30. This game also features two of the leading candidates to capture the Big Ten Player of the Year in seniors Frank Kaminsky and Aaron White. Here’s a preview and prediction of the night’s action.
IOWA AT WISCONSIN -10
The one thing preventing the Hawkeyes from being a legit Final Four contender is their porous shooting. They rebound, block shots, play solid defense, and possess excellent depth, but their 42% team shooting percentage is one of the worst in the country. They were a horrific 29.6% and 27.5% in defeats to Texas and Northern Iowa, respectively. Many of their struggles can be attributed to White, who has totaled 17 points on 4-12 shooting in their last two losses. Jarrod Uthoff’s three-point prowess will be needed against the Badgers’ sixth ranked defense; he’s hit 10-20 from beyond the arc in the last four wins. Iowa last won in the Kohl Center in December 2011 when Wisconsin was ranked No. 11, and the teams have split the previous six meetings.
At the opposite end of the shooting spectrum is Wisconsin. Their 48.8% field goal percentage ranks 20th in the nation. Despite having decent size in the paint, the Badgers are only mustering a pathetic 34.2 rebounds per game. Frank Kaminsky has recorded six double-doubles and is hitting 40.8% from three-point range. He’s a Player of the Year candidate and one of a handful of players who can single-handedly will his team to victory. If he and sophomore forward Nigel Hayes control the low post, it will be a long night for the visitors. The rotation is only seven deep, but all seven can shoot from all over the floor. One guy to watch is three-point sniper Josh Gasser, who is incredibly streaky, but a major difference maker when he’s on point. This marks only the second game against a Top 25 opponent, besides the aforementioned duel with Duke.
The Hawkeyes are 7-7 ATS overall and 3-1 ATS on the road. Wisconsin is 10-7-1 ATS overall and 6-5-1 ATS at home. These teams have a recent history of engaging in close contests, making the number in this one a tad bit high. Badgers take it, but Iowa covers.
Bet Iowa +10
