Iowa vs. Minnesota Prediction and Odds: A Big Ten Brawl Between Struggling Squads
By Matt De Saro
The Iowa Hawkeyes hit the road on Sunday afternoon to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the William Arena in Minneapolis. These two Big Ten rivals have strong overall records but are struggling in conference play. Iowa is 2-3 in the Big Ten while the Golden Gophers are just 1-4.
Iowa has the hot hand between the two and has won five of its last six games including a big boy win over the Indiana Hoosiers last week. The Hawkeyes are hoping that win was the beginning of the end of their mid-season struggles. Meanwhile, the Golden Gophers have lost three on the trot and are on a fast track to the basement of the Big Ten.
Here are the odds for this Big Ten showdown, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.
Iowa vs. Minnesota Odds, Spread, and Total
Spread:
- Iowa -2.5 (-110)
- Minnesota +2.5 (-110)
Moneyline:
- Iowa -160
- Minnesota +125
Total: 154 (Over -110/Under -110)
Iowa vs. Minnesota Prediction and Pick
Iowa has stumbled a bit after opening the season as one of the best teams in the Big Ten during conference play. However, once their rivals started popping up on the schedule, things turn a turn for the worse. It's worth noting that three of their four overall losses came against very good teams including Purdue, Illinois, and Iowa State. I am much more interested in their recent success that has injected some much-needed positivity and motivation into this group. The Hawkeyes are also fully healthy coming into this game and will be hell-bent on getting back on track. I like their chances against Minnesota.
This is because Iowa’s offense, despite wins and losses, has been one of the highest-scoring programs in the nation. The Hawkeyes are fourth in the nation in scoring and seventh in free throws taken. Good thing for them they shoot over 77 percent from the charity stripe. The defense has been an issue for Iowa who ranks 263rd in scoring defense. Despite this, I still think Iowa is a much stronger team that is coming off a big win over a very good team. There is a possibility that the Golden Gophers will be without four players for various reasons. This would be a major issue for a team that is struggling to find scoring and get their rotation sorted out. The Gophers are 0-3-1 ATS in their last four home games and I don’t think things turn around tonight.
Pick: Iowa Hawkeyes -2.5 (-110)