The college basketball betting board for Thursday is headlined by a game between two of the top teams in the Big Ten as the No. 9-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes face the No. 8 Iowa Hawkeyes.
The Buckeyes have looked very good over the last few weeks and will look to upset the Hawkeyes, and Wooden Award favorite Luka Garza, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
We break down the college basketball odds with our best Ohio State vs. Iowa picks and predictions for Thursday, February 4, with tipoff at 7 p.m. ET.
Ohio State Buckeyes at Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview
Key Injuries
Ohio State: Jimmy Sotos G (Out).
Iowa: None.
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
The Hawkeyes are 20-5-2 ATS in their last 27 home games. Find more NCAA betting trends for Ohio State vs. Iowa.
NCAAB Sharp Money and Line Movement Report
By Patrick EversonIowa opened -5.5 at FanDuel, dropped to -4.5 this morning and rebounded to -5.5 within about an hour, and as the number is still -5.5 as of 4:15 p.m. ET. The spread is drawing two-way action, with ticket count dead even and 53 percent of money on the Hawkeyes. The total dipped from 158.5 to 156.5, also on two-way play, with 54 percent of bets on the Under and 51 percent of money on the Over.
Check out the full line movement for this gameAgainst the Spread (ATS) Pick
Both of these programs have almost identical records with Ohio State 14-4 and Iowa 13-4. The Buckeyes are coming off a 17-point victory over Michigan State, and are 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS over their last seven games. The Hawkeyes are also fresh off a win over the Spartans but dropped back-to-back games against Illinois and Indiana before that.
Ohio State has a well-balanced team that ranks fourth in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, while ranking 66th in defensive efficiency.
Iowa is more of an offensive powerhouse that has been vulnerable on the defensive end of the court. Led by center Luka Garza and his 26.5 points per game, the Hawkeyes are No. 1 in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency and average 120.4 points per 100 possessions. They rank just 117th in adjusted defensive efficiency, though.
That said, Iowa has had a lot more defensive success at home where opponents shoot just 39.9 percent from the floor, a whopping 59 points below their opponent field goal percentage of 45.8 percent in away contests.
Home-court advantage could be key to this contest, with Iowa a commanding 20-5-2 ATS in its last 27 games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Meanwhile, the Buckeyes are just 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 road games against teams with a winning home record. When you also consider that the home side is 7-1 ATS in the previous eight head-to-head contests, we're backing Iowa here.
PREDICTION: Iowa -5 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
Ohio State generally plays at a slow pace but the last two times these teams met the Buckeyes matched the Hawkeyes' more up-tempo style, combining for 161 points last February, and 160 points the previous year.
The Hawkeyes rank second in the country with 89.4 points per game but struggle on the defensive end, allowing 74.4 ppg, which places them just outside the Top-250.
The Buckeyes, meanwhile, rank 16th in the nation with 110.8 points per 100 possessions, so if they up their tempo they should be able to put points on the board.
Both squads also rarely turn the ball over, with the Hawkeyes tied for the fewest turnovers per possession in the nation and OSU slotting in at 16th. The Buckeyes, despite their stout defense, don't force many turnovers and rank outside the Top-300 when it comes to opponent turnovers per possession.
Betting trends for both schools also favor the Over. The Buckeyes are 5-2 to the Over in their last seven games while going 12-4 O/U in their previous 16 contests against teams with a winning percentage over .600. The Hawkeyes, meanwhile, are 13-6 to the Over in their last 19 games overall. Take the Over again.
PREDICTION: Over 156.5 (-110)
Ohio State vs Iowa Betting Card
- Iowa -5 (-110)
- Over 156.5 (-110)
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