Time:<\/strong> 6:30 PM ET \/ 3:30 PM PT
Broadcast:<\/strong> Big Ten Network
Location:<\/strong> Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN
Spread:<\/strong> Illinois -10.5 | Total: 166.5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iowa vs Illinois Betting Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Out of the six teams that participated in the Big Ten’s opening round – Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Iowa, Rutgers and USC – the lowest seed out of that group is probably the team that others fear the most. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iowa clinched its spot in the conference tournament with a road upset at Nebraska on the last day of the season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hawkeyes parlayed that win with another upset over Ohio State in Wednesday’s opening round. Fran McCaffery is no stranger to making a deep run in this tournament, having won the whole event in 2022. Iowa’s offense looked very comfortable in Wednesday’s 77-70 win over the Buckeyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hawkeyes generated 1.18 points per possession as four players finished in double figures. Iowa shot 54.7-percent from the floor, including 10-for-24 (41.7-percent) from three-point range. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Illinois seemingly fixed its shooting woes at the end of the regular season, but this is not a spot where we feel comfortable backing the Illini as a double-digit favorite. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Illinois did beat Iowa 81-61 at the end of February, but the Hawkeyes were missing senior guard Drew Thelwell (he is back and played 26 minutes on Wednesday). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Big Ten play, Illinois attempted the second-most three-point attempts while shooting just 30.1-percent from beyond the arc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is a dangerous recipe in March, playing in unfamiliar gyms. The last time Illinois played on a neutral court, the Illini went 2-for-26 from three-point range and suffered the worst loss in program history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s not an overwhelming number, but teams in Iowa’s situation have historically been under-valued in these spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iowa vs Illinois Predictions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Over the last three seasons, underdogs of at least five points playing with zero rest have gone 101-92-3 against the spread (52.3-percent), courtesy of college basketball analyst Will Warren. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, the team that is playing on short rest is at a disadvantage, but don\u2019t forget that the rested team only has 24 hours to prepare for their opponent because they don\u2019t know who they are playing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The average margin of victory in the last ten meetings between these teams is 7.5 points per game. Five of those ten games were decided by five points or fewer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’re not comfortable backing Illinois as a double-digit favorite until we see that the Illini can hit some outside shots at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iowa vs Illinois Prediction: Iowa +10.5<\/h3>\n\n\n\nGoldSheet Top Picks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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