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After a week-long of instant classic basketball, the next round is finally upon us as the Big Ten inches that much closer to crowning a conference champion! As the Big Ten usually plays their championship on Sunday, this semi-final matchup includes the Indiana Hoosiers pitted against the Iowa Hawkeyes. With both schools looking to make history, it is time we jump into our college basketball odds series, which involves our Indiana-Iowa prediction and pick. How about another fresh slate of college basketball heaven?
Entering the weekend, the Big Ten conference is coming off an unreal Friday of basketball, as the majority of the contests that took place resulted in upsets of the top-tier seeded schools within the bracket. Indiana decided to get the ball rolling in their highly anticipated matchup heading into Friday as they were caught in a back-and-forth battle of wills against two-seeded Illinois, slaying the beast that is the Fighting Illini in a 65-63 victory. The win versus Illinois proved that the on-the-bubble Hoosiers belonged among the field of 68 and possibly punched their ticket to the Big Dance in less than a week from now.
The Hawkeyes are well aware of the damage that this dangerous Hoosiers team can conflict and will hope to avoid ending up among the same fate as their Big Ten conference foe Illinois. Believe it or not, the battle-tested Hawkeyes also pulled off an upset of their own, even if it was a slightly less dramatic ten-point win against Rutgers 84-74. Iowa is one team that has hit their stride and is a sneaky pick for beyond the Big Ten Conference Tournament, as their dancing shoes are ready to boogie on down to the tune of March madness by winning seven of their last eight contests.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Indiana-Iowa Big Ten Tournament odds:
Big Ten Tournament Odds: Indiana-Iowa Odds
Indiana: +6 (-110)
Iowa: -6 (-110)
Over: 143.5 (-110)
Under: 143.5 (-110)
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Why Indiana Could Cover the Spread
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The Hoosiers aren't afraid of a little grind-it-out brand of basketball, as their defense has been at the forefront in their first two-round wins coming at the hand of Michigan and Illinois. Their most recent dethroning of one of the kings of the Big Ten shocked many in the midwest, and no one should be allowed to overlook the Hoosiers any longer. Indiana appears to seem like they rather do not care about their supporters' cardiac health, as their previous two victories have been by only seven points. Despite being 4-12 ATS as an underdog during 2021-2022, they are feeling themselves of late by compiling a record of 5-1 against the spread in their last six overall.
From an outside view, the Hoosiers are winning ugly. Their top-rated defense in the conference has obviously caused issues for teams thus far, and they will get the ultimate test against a high-flying Hawkeyes team who is not fearful to drop points abundantly on your head. If the Hoosiers are going to cover the spread, the defense is going to have to be their bread and butter because the offense isn't good enough to last in shootout-type matchups. Iowa loves to get out and run early in the shot clock and are great in transition, but they struggle in half-court sets. Expect the IU to keep note of this and make adjustments accordingly as the game progresses.
Why Iowa Could Cover the Spread
Does offense win championships in today's day in age of college basketball? The Hawkeyes certainly think so, as their overall team scheme emphasizes putting the rock in the net. Iowa is not the type of ball club that you want to face if you are a team like the Hoosiers who will be playing their third consecutive game in as many days, as the Hawkeyes will force you to run at times where your lungs will be gasping for air. Also, the Hawkeyes are a fantastic team against the spread, as it is certain that the betting public has fallen in love with the school that is 5-0 ATS in their last five games overall.
The Hawkeyes even excel at neutral sites matchups, recording a 10-2-1 mark of late. Surprisingly enough, these two teams have not squared off against one another during the 2021-2022 campaign despite being in the same conference, which could benefit Iowa with their electric offensive attributes and extreme efficiency in how they are always at the right place at the right time with their elite positioning on offense, resulting in opportunities galore to put up as many points as possible.
Final Indiana-Iowa Prediction & Pick
Indiana will not be slowed down now, and if anything, the Hoosiers' general disrespect heading into conference tournament time has fueled them to play at an all-time high with their effort on defense and ability to shut down a team's top playmaking scorers. One single statistic that will convince you to side with IU is that the underdog in this series is 5-2 ATS within the past seven, and nothing should be considered differently in an exciting matchup that Indiana is more desperate to win considering their current standing among teams who are on the bubble.
Final Indiana-Iowa Prediction & Pick: Indiana +6 (-110)
