Big Ten basketball is cutthroat basketball. Any team can beat anyone on any given day in the conference. In this upcoming matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Iowa Hawkeyes, which team will come out on top? Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Ohio State Buckeyes vs Iowa Hawkeyes NCAA College Basketball Game on February 4 2021
Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA
When: Thursday, February 4, 2021, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Ohio State Buckeyes (odds) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (odds) – view all 2021 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Ohio State Buckeyes (odds)
Record: 11-4 Overall / 8-4 Conference
Ohio State is coming off a 79-62 home win over the Michigan State Spartans last Sunday. The Buckeyes are on a three-game win streak, as they have also defeated the Wisconsin Badgers and the Penn State Nittany Lions, both at home, in the previous couple of games. Ohio State will come into the showdown with Iowa with averages of 76.9 points per game and 68.0 points allowed per contest. Ohio State’s perimeter defense has been the best in Big 12 play against the three, with Big 12 opponents shooting just below 30 percent from deep against the Buckeyes. Iowa is an efficient team on offense, but the Buckeyes do seem to have the tools to disrupt Luka Garza and company. The Buckeyes are fourth overall in the conference with 100.8 points allowed per 100 possessions. On offense, Iowa’s leaky defense could provide a chance for the Buckeyes to put up points and keep up with the Hawkeyes. Iowa is doing a poor job of putting pressure on opposing ball handlers, as evidenced by the fact that the Hawkeyes are just 233rd in the nation with a 7.2 steal percentage.
Ohio State is 6-4 against the spread in its last 10 games overall.
Betting on the Iowa Hawkeyes (odds)
Record: 12-4 Overall / 6-3 Conference
The Hawkeyes, who are scheduled to face the Michigan State Spartans at home this Tuesday before facing the Buckeyes, have lost their most recent pair of games. Whether they break their losing skid or not in the Michigan State game, the date with Ohio State is one that has been circled by the Hawkeyes on their calendar a long time ago. Iowa hasn’t been shooting the rock well of late. They shot just 38.1 percent from the field in an 81-69 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers and just 43.1 percent in an 80-75 loss to the Illinois Fighting Illini. The strength of this Iowa team lies on its efficient offense and when it’s not doing so, it can’t rely on its faulty defense that’s allowing 74.1 points per game, as of this writing. Iowa is second in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency with 124.6 points per 100 possessions. The Hawkeyes are 23rd with 38.5 percent shooting from deep and 38th with a 54.7 percent shooting inside the arc.
Iowa is 2-1 against the spread in its last three games against Ohio State.
Writer’s Prediction
Iowa wins, 84-79.
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