Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines Predictions, Picks, Odds and NCAA Basketball Betting Preview – March 5, 2016

The No. 16 Iowa Hawkeyes and Michigan Wolverines will be aiming to end their respective losing woes and finish off the regular season on a winning note. The Hawkeyes enter this matchup as losers of their last four contests, while the Wolverines have fallen short in three of their previous four. A victory here would greatly help both programs garner some momentum and regain their confidence back for the Big Ten tournament.  Who will succeed in doing so?

Read on below for a detailed look of this regular-season finale between these two conference rivals. And for more college basketball action, you can check out our preview of the Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Texas A&M Aggies or Providence Friars vs. St. John’s Red Storm.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines Preview

Where: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan

When: Saturday, March 5, 2016, 08:00 PM ET

Line: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines – view all NCAA Basketball lines

TV Broadcast: BTN

Betting on the Iowa Hawkeyes (20-9, 11-6 Big Ten)

Any feelings of discouragement or pressure shouldn’t be welcomed by the reeling No. 16 Iowa Hawkeyes, who are currently on a four-game slide. They are still possible Big Ten title contenders especially when they’re at their best form. And the Hawkeyes need to remind themselves and the world what they are capable of with a win in their regular-season finale opposite the Michigan Wolverines.

Yes, that’s easier said than done, but the Hawkeyes can take pride on the fact that they already defeated the Wolverines on the road earlier this season. In that impressive 82-71 win, Jarrod Uthoff and Peter Jok imposed their will, as the two combined for 39 points and eight boards to lead the way for their team.

Uthoff, in particular, has undoubtedly been Iowa’s No. 1 threat this year, averaging 18.4 points and 6.4 rebounds. His presence has also been felt on the defensive end of the court, as the senior forward is posting 2.7 blocks a game. But it’ll be quite intriguing to see how Uthoff will fare against a Michigan defense that’s only allowing 63.3 points at home.

Speaking of defense, this should probably be the biggest issue for the Hawkeyes in this game. Iowa is giving up an average of 73.7 points in its four-game slide. If that remains to be the case again, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Uthoff and co. suffer their fifth-straight setback.

Iowa is 4-6 SU and ATS in its last 10 games on the road.

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Betting on the Michigan Wolverines (20-10, 10-7 Big Ten)

Even without their top-scorer in Caris LeVert, the Michigan Wolverines still pose as a serious threat to any team. They’re outside shooting has been on point this season, as they are currently No. 14 nationally in terms of three-point accuracy (39.8%). But that didn’t show in the Wolverines’ latest loss last Sunday, wherein Wisconsin limited them to a season-low 13 three-point attempts (5-of-13).

Moving on, a trip back home for their final game of the season should be able to help the Wolverines relocate their offensive rhythm and (hopefully) notch the win. They’ll be playing host to the No. 16 Iowa Hawkeyes, who are riding a four-game slump.

The pair of Derrick Walton Jr. and Zak Irvin will have to take charge in delivering the buckets. Those two have been Michigan’s most reliable scorers this season, averaging 12.2 and 11.3 points respectively. But during their first meeting with Iowa on January 17, both struggled with their strokes as they shot 8-of-22 combined from the floor. Walton Jr, in particular, went 3-of-11 from three-point territory.

If these two shoot bricks again, Duncan Robinson must grab his opportunity to shine. Robinson posted respectable numbers in the loss to the Badgers, netting 10 points (4-of-7) along with two assists and two treys. Overall this season, he’s putting up 11.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 46.6 percent from down town.

Rebounding, however, has been a glaring issue for the Wolverines, who are averaging just 31.9 boards a game. And making things worse, they’ll be trying to matchup with a tougher and lengthier Iowa team that’s garnering 10.2 offensive rebounds this year, which is among the most in the nation.

Michigan is 8-2 SU and 6-4 ATS in its past 10 games at home.

Writer’s Prediction

Hawkeyes win it, 78-65.

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