With the calendar now flipped over into the month of February, we are that much closer to Selection Sunday and the start of March Madness. This is the stage of the season when every win and loss starts to become all the more important, as it can make a big difference in overall ranking for the top teams, as well as affecting the playoff chances of teams on the bubble. There is absolutely no doubt that the Michigan Wolverines will be part of the playoff picture, as they are in the process of putting together another great season.
The Iowa Hawkeyes also looks like a decent bet, although they are probably going to need to pick up the pace a little in Big Ten Conference play if they don’t want to be sweating it out heading into Selection Sunday. These two conference foes will go head to head for the first and only time this season on Friday night, with the Hawkeyes looking to spring the upset on home court. Michigan is in as a 5.5-point favorite, with the point total set at 142.
Michigan vs Iowa NCAA Basketball Spread & Game Preview
IT’S GAMEDAY!
🆚: at Iowa 📍: Iowa City, Iowa 🏟: Carver-Hawkeye Arena 🕕: 6 p.m. CT 📊: https://t.co/6KuG3oRdfz 📻: https://t.co/vTELeDebVe 📺: https://t.co/CNQTNVc3O9 #GoBlue 〽️🏀 pic.twitter.com/qIZ7qOtKDs — Michigan Men’s Basketball (@umichbball) 1 de febrero de 2019
- When: Friday, February 1 at 7 PM EST
- Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City
- TV: FS1
- Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
- NCAA Basketball Spread: Michigan Wolverines -5.5 (Total 141)
Buffalo vs Bowling Green NCAA Basketball Odds & Expert Pick
Why bet on the Michigan Wolverines?
The Michigan Wolverines came as close as you can get to National Championship without winning last season after falling to Villanova in the title game. That playoff experience is going to serve them well once the tournament begins this year, and they are already proving that they are a team to be reckoned with, going 20-1 to this point in the season.
Their lone loss on the season came at the hands of Wisconsin, but the Wolverines have bounced back from that loss to win 3 in a row, a run that has taken them to the top of the Big Ten Conference. Michigan has had a tough time playing in Iowa, winning just once in their last 5 visits there. Overall this season, they are 10-10 ATS as a favorite, as well as being 2-2 ATS as a road favorite.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 71.38
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.61
- Three-Point Percentage: 35.13
- Free Throw Percentage: 67.58
- Total Rebounds: 35.95
- Total Score: 56.14
- Field Goal Percentage: 39.23
- Three-Point Percentage: 29.36
- Free Throw Percentage: 65.60
- Total Rebounds: 33.10
Why bet on the Iowa Hawkeyes?
The Hawkeyes are having themselves a very respectable season, coming into this game with a 16-5 record on the year. The bad news is that 2 of those losses have come in back to back games ahead of this one, which makes you wonder where their confidence level is at right now. Prior to those 2 losses, this was a team that looked to be in top form, winning 5 in a row and covering the spread in each of those games.
The Hawkeyes are just 5-8 ATS at home this season and are 2-2 ATS as the home underdog. They have had 6 games against ranked opponents this season, going 3-3 SU in those outings, so it is certainly not outside the realm of possibility that they could come away with the win on Friday night.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 82.24
- Field Goal Percentage: 47.65
- Three-Point Percentage: 37.18
- Free Throw Percentage: 75.50
- Total Rebounds: 36.00
- Total Score: 73.57
- Field Goal Percentage: 44.34
- Three-Point Percentage: 31.45
- Free Throw Percentage: 69.66
- Total Rebounds: 33.24
Maryland at Wisconsin NCAAB Lines, Preview & Prediction
Michigan vs Iowa NCAA Basketball Betting Trends
- Michigan is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
- Michigan is 20-1 SU in its last 21 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Michigan’s last 5 games
- Iowa is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
- Iowa is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Iowa’s last 8 games at home
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
While the Wolverines have not had a lot of recent success when playing in Iowa, I think we see a reversal of fortunes on Friday night. I like Michigan to win this one and cover the spread.
Score: Michigan Wolverines 75 – Iowa Hawkeyes 67
