The No. 9-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes face the No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Sweet 16 tonight.
This should be a fantastic matchup between a pair of programs that nobody thought would be here before the season. The Hawkeyes are led by All Big Ten guard Bennett Stirtz, and I'm backing him on his player props in this South Region clash.
Check out the rest of my March Madness picks and player props for Iowa vs. Nebraska on Thursday, March 26.
Iowa vs Nebraska props
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 Bennett Stirtz |
Over 18.5 points | -105 |
 Berke Buyuktuncel |
Under 5.5 rebounds | -130 |
| Sam Hoiberg |
Over 1.5 steals | +135 |
Prop #1: Bennett Stirtz
What was most surprising about the Iowa Hawkeyes beating Florida was that they pulled off the upset despite Bennett Stirtz going 0-9 from the arc. The senior guard rarely comes off the floor and has been a one-man machine.
Stirtz leads Iowa with 19.7 points per game on 48/36/84 shooting splits, with nobody else on the team averaging more than 11. He cleared 18.5 points in 16 conference games, including a 25-point performance against the Nebraska Cornhuskers last month.
Stirtz can create his own shot, and he sits in the top 98th percentile in midrange and rim efficiency per ShotQualityBets. He struggled with his shooting in the first two rounds of the tourney, but expect positive regression here.
Prop #2: Berke Buyuktuncel Under 5.5 rebounds
The Huskers attempt threes at the 12th-highest rate in the country. They also rank 361st in opponent 3-point rate since their defense forces opponents into perimeter shots.
A barrage of 3-point attempts means longer rebounds, which tend to get to the guards and wings. That's a crucial reason why Nebraska big man Berke Buyuktuncel has grabbed fewer than 5.5 boards in nine of his last 11 games.
In addition, Iowa sits near the bottom of the country in adjusted tempo, and a sluggish pace means fewer possessions and less available rebounds.
Prop #3: Sam Hoiberg Over 1.5 steals (+135)
Nebraska guard Sam Hoiberg finished the regular season with a conference-high 2.1 steals per game. He's gone Under 1.5 steals in his last three games, but had cleared that number in eight of his previous 12 contests, averaging 2.3 steals per game over that span.
That includes a five-steal performance against the Hawkeyes earlier this month and a two-steal game against them on February 17.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
