Iowa at Michigan College Hoops Betting Pick

The 15th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes are playing its worst basketball of the season at the most inopportune time possible, but they’ll still have a chance to get a ‘W’ when they face a Michigan Wolverines ballclub that is mired in a nearly identical funk. Now, let’s find out which one of these inconsistent programs will bring home the bacon.

How important is Saturday’s game with the Hawkeyes? Just ask @JohnBeilein #GoBlue https://t.co/XpOeF8nIJp

— Michigan Basketball (@umichbball) March 4, 2016

Iowa at Michigan College Hoops Betting Pick & TV Info

When: Saturday, March 5, 2016, 8:00 PM ET Where: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, MI TV: BTN Radio: Michigan IMG Sports Network Live Stream: BTN2Go NCAAB Odds: TBA

Why Bet the Iowa Hawkeyes

The Hawkeyes (20-9 SU, 13-13 AATS) look like a good wager because they hold the edge in scoring and rebounding – and Michigan is struggling mightily. Iowa has lost four straight games and five of their last six games overall including their heartbreaking 81-78 loss against Indiana as a 4.5-point home favorite on Monday. Senior forward Jarrod Uthoff led the Hawkeyes with 18 points and added eight rebounds while senior guard Anthony Clemmons added 14 points. “A loss is a loss. It feels terrible either way,” Uthoff said after playing his final game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. “I mean, I can’t go judging on a scale of one to 10 how bad a loss is. A loss is a 10 every time.” The Hawkeyes are just 1-5 ATS in their last six road games and average 78.8 points per game while limiting the opposition to just 69.0 points per contest defensively

Why Bet the Michigan Wolverines

Michigan (20-10 SU, 15-13 ATS) has lost three of its last four games including its 68-57 loss against Wisconsin while failing to cover the spread as a 5.5-point road dog. Junior guard Zak Irvin scored a team-high 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Michigan while sophomore guard Duncan Robinson and sophomore forward Ricky Doyle both added 10 points, but the Wolverines saw their NCAA tournament hopes take a big hit with the loss. The good news is that the Wolverines are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 home games against a team with a losing road record. Michigan averages 75.4 points per game while limiting the opposition to just 66.9 points per contest defensively.

Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction

The Iowa Hawkeyes may be the only nationally-ranked team in this contest, but for me, it is the Michigan Wolverines that are the right pick to at least cover the spread. Iowa is just 0-6 ATS in their last six games while Michigan has gone 6-2 ATS in their last eight games following a straight up loss. The Hawkeyes are also just 2-6 ATS in the last eight road games against Michigan while the home team in this series has gone 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings. Michigan covers the spread – by getting the outright home win. My final score prediction is Michigan 75 Iowa 73