After a strong 75-64 victory over the Maryland Terrapins in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, the Iowa Hawkeyes are back in action against the Ohio State Buckeyes, recipients of the double-bye, who will be opening up postseason play against the Hawkeyes, with the winner taking on the Michigan Wolverines on Friday.
If you are looking for some betting advice for the game, we have you covered. Here are the latest odds for the game, courtesy of DraftKings:
Iowa basketball vs. Ohio State betting odds
College basketball odds via DraftKings as of Wednesday, March 11
Iowa vs. Ohio State prediction, pick:
These two met in late February in Iowa City, Iowa, and the Hawkeyes took it to Ohio State 74-57. I suspect this game will be sung to a much different tune, considering it is postseason play and Ohio State is living life much closer to the bubble, while Iowa is playing for NCAA Tournament seeding.
The loss to Iowa woke up the Buckeyes. They finished the regular season by rattling off wins over Purdue, Penn State, and Indiana to re-enter the NCAA Tournament picture. They know that a win over Iowa could be the final piece of the puzzle to ensure a spot in the field of 68.
That’s easier said than done, though. Iowa started slow against Maryland, but knocked off the rust and rediscovered some mojo. This team also gets up for big games. Look at late-season surges against Nebraska and Michigan. They play up to their opponent’s level, and I expect them to do so here.
Iowa dominated the last game by outscoring Ohio State in the paint 44-18. Look for Ben McCollum to slow this game down, neutralize the dynamic guard play of Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr., and get this thing played at Iowa’s tempo.
It won’t be pretty, but it doesn’t have to be in the postseason. Iowa shook off the rust against Maryland and will start this one better, setting up an intriguing showdown with No. 1-seeded Michigan.
Prediction: Iowa 71, Ohio State 66
Best Bet: Iowa -1.5
How to watch Iowa basketball vs. Ohio State
Watch Iowa basketball vs. Ohio State
Time: 11 a.m. CT
TV Channel: Big Ten Network
Streaming: Big Ten Network App
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire : Iowa vs. Ohio State: Big Ten Tournament betting odds, prediction
Reporting by Riley Donald, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
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