The marquee matchup in the Big Ten sends the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to battle the Iowa Hawkeyes on Wednesday.
Iowa took a 77-75 road victory at Rutgers but failed to cover as a 3.5-point college basketball betting favorite back on January 2—part of a five-game winning streak. However, since that run Iowa has won just one of its past five outings (0-5 ATS).
The loss to Iowa started the Scarlet Knights on a five-game slide but Rutgers has since strung together four wins in a row (3-1 ATS) heading into Wednesday.
Here are our NCAA free picks and predictions for Rutgers vs. Iowa on February 10.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview
Key Injuries
Rutgers: None to report.
Iowa: C.J. Fredrick G (Questionable).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
The Hawkeyes are 19-5-2 ATS in their last 26 home games. Find more NCAA betting trends for Rutgers vs. Iowa.
NCAAB Sharp Money and Line Movement Report
By Patrick EversonAs of 5 p.m. ET, Iowa is up a tick to -6.5 from a -6 opener at PointsBet USA, where the Hawkeyes are attracting 60 percent of tickets and 63 percent of handle. The total is down to 150.5 from a 152 opener, although ticket count is about 3/1 and money 4/1 on the Over.
Check out the full line movement for this gameAgainst the Spread (ATS) Pick
The Hawkeyes are hoping starting guard C.J. Fredrick is ready to roll Wednesday after missing time with an injured leg during the program’s recent skid. Fredrick averages just under nine points per game but is a steadying presence in the backcourt and a threat from beyond the arc, shooting 50 percent from 3-point range.
He was back at practice this week and his teammates told reporters that Fredrick looked healthy. If so, that gives the Hawkeyes added scoring depth, especially with the way forward Keegan Murray stepped up in Fredrick’s absence. The freshman has totaled 30 points and 21 rebounds in the past four games, sliding into Fran McCaffery’s starting lineup.
Iowa is desperate to find its form before the postseason and welcomes a Rutgers squad that is on a roll but built that momentum against the bottom half of the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights are also a different team on the road, where they average only 65.3 points per game—11.3 points less than when playing at home.
With the Hawkeyes getting healthy and Rutgers’ recent run a bit overrated, we like an Iowa side that is 8-4 ATS in its own gym this season.
PREDICTION: Iowa -6.5 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
The Hawkeyes are hoping the return of Fredrick and a strong homestand can jump-start their offense for the final stretch of the Big Ten schedule. Iowa, which ranks third in the country in scoring at 87.8 points per game, has posted just 75.6 points per contest on 42.6 percent shooting in the past five games, including going 42 for 118 from outside (35.6 percent).
An improved night from the perimeter will free up space for NCAA leading scorer Luka Garza, who has been subdued during the Hawkeyes’ skid. The 6-foot-11 center, who averages 25.5 points an outing, has failed to crack the 20-point plateau in three of the past four games. Garza dropped 25 points on the Scarlet Knights back on January 2.
When these teams last met, both started out slow with each posting 35 points in the opening half. Rutgers left plenty of points on the table, shooting just 4 of 12 from the foul line and blowing 10 of 23 layups for the game.
Don’t expect another slow start Wednesday with Rutgers turning up the offensive intensity early on during this four-game run, outscoring foes by a collective 82-43 in the opening 10 minutes (20.5 points per first 10 mins). That will set the pace and push the final score Over the 152-point total.
PREDICTION: Over 152 (-110)
Rutgers vs Iowa Betting Card
- Iowa -6.5 (-110)
- Over 152 (-110)
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