Michigan State vs Iowa College Hoops Free Pick

When you are the number one NCAA Basketball betting team in the country, you walk into every game with a huge target on your back, as everyone wants to take you down. The Michigan State Spartans are deserving of the top rank, but they will have a tough time holding onto it when they head into the Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Tuesday, December 29 to face the Iowa Hawkeyes. Tip-off for this one is set for 9 PM EST on BTN.

Michigan State Spartans vs Iowa Hawkeyes NCAAB Betting Pick

This has all the makings of a great match-up, and it’s certainly one worth waiting up for on Tuesday night. The Spartans will be the favorite here, but they know that they are going to be in for a battle. The home court edge might well swing many bettors on the side of the Hawkeyes, so it’s going to be interesting to see what sort of price they can be had for. View TV schedule here.

Why bet on the Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans are full value for their number one ranking, winning 13 straight games to start the season and knocking off a pair of ranked teams in the process. They did survive a real scare in their last outing though, as they needed OT to knock off a stubborn Oakland team. As you may have already guessed, the Spartans failed to cover in that one, taking them to 8-4-0 ATS on the season. They have covered in every game following a failure to cover this season. 8 of the 12 games that have hit the board this season have gone UNDER. The Spartans are averaging 81.2 PPG, and are giving up just 59.7 PPG.

Why bet on the Iowa Hawkeyes

The 9-3 Hawkeyes are coming into this game carrying an unblemished home record, with all 3 of their losses coming on the road or at a neutral site. 2 of those losses came against ranked teams, but they do have 1 win versus a ranked team so far this season. The Hawkeyes are 5-4-0 ATS, but have also covered in 3 of their last 4 games. They have opened as the underdog twice this season, going 1-1 ATS in those games. They are 5-4-0 O/U, and their last 2 games have fallen on the UNDER side of the point total. The Hawkeyes are averaging 82.6 PPG, and are giving up 67.9 PPG.

My Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

The scare that Michigan State got against Oakland may have come at the perfect time, as their schedule is about to get a whole lot tougher. They should come into this one with better focus, and that should get them the win. Michigan State Spartans 78 Iowa Hawkeyes 69