The No. 22 Iowa Hawkeyes could be on the way out of the Top 25 AP Poll after back-to-back losses, but they can still make some noise this week. That’s if they can steal a win in Madison this coming Thursday against a ranked Wisconsin Badgers, who are set to play their last home game of the regular season. Going into this pre-tournament game, NCAA college basketball futures currently price the Iowa Hawkeyes with +10,000 odds to win the National Championship whole the Badgers are listed fared better with +7,500 odds to do the same.
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Betting Preview for the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers College Basketball Game on March 7, 2019
Where: Kohl Center, Madison
When: Thursday, March 7, 2019, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Iowa Hawkeyes (odds) vs. Wisconsin Badgers (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Iowa Hawkeyes (21-8 Overall / 10-8 Conference)
Coming off an 86-72 home loss to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, the Hawkeyes will look to end a two-game losing skid in a big way in the rematch with Wisconsin. Prior to the Scarlet game, Iowa got demolished by Ohio State on the road, 90-70. A big reason for Iowa’s struggles is its offense that has been sputtered of late. Iowa is 22nd in the nation with 80.0 points per game, but has put up just 70.3 in the last three outings. The Hawkeyes have also made just 40.0 percent of their shots from the field during that stretch. In a 72-66 loss to Wisconsin at home back in December, the Hawkeyes shot just 39.0 percent, though, Tyler Cook had 19 points on an efficient 8-for-15 line from the floor. Cook needs help though, especially from the bench, which got outscored by Wisconsin’s second stringers, 21-15.
A combination of troubles on both ends of the floor helps explain why the over is 3-0 in Iowa’s last three games.
Betting on the Wisconsin Badgers (20-9 Overall / 12-6 Conference)
After getting upset by the Indiana Hoosiers in a Bloomington last week, the Badgers successfully returned in the win column by downing the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday, 61-57. Wisconsin’s defense made life hard for Penn State’s scorers. Penn State hotshot Lamar Stevens dropped 22 points on the Badgers, but it took him 19 shots to get there. Wisconsin limited the Nittany Lions to only 35.2 field goal shooting percentage, which is not a surprise anymore, considering that the Badgers are 10th in the nation in scoring defense with 61.8 points allowed per game and 15th with their opponents shooting only 39.7 percent on the season. The Badgers also likes to make teams pay when left open from distance. They are only making 7.5 3-pointers per game, but are tops in the Big Ten with a 37.0 percent shooting from behind the arc. And thanks to their incredible discipline, the Badgers are averaging 9.3 turnovers per game – the fewest in the conference.
Wisconsin is 5-2 against the spread (ATS) in its last seven home games against the Hawkeyes.
Writer’s Prediction
Wisconsin wins, 74-66.
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