The Iowa Hawkeyes meet up with the Northwestern Wildcats today in Big Ten College Basketball action. The game is scheduled for a noon start time and it will be televised lived on the Big Ten Network. Currently the College Basketball Betting Odds for the game have the Hawkeyes listed as a big time favorite by double digits.
Iowa is looking to play itself into the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes already have 20 wins on the season and a loss to Northwestern here would not do them any good. Iowa and Northwestern are both on fire coming into today's game with the Wildcats claiming wins in five of their last six games overall while Iowa has won five in a row.
Northwestern won the first matchup between these teams on their own floor back in the middle of February in overtime. The Hawkeyes scored only 61 points in that game, but since then have averaged better than 76 points a game in their recent win streak. Northwestern has the ability to slow teams down and have only given up an average of 62 points a game to their opponents this season. Iowa can play the slower-style game, but in the earlier loss to the Wildcats they shot just 32 percent and made just eight of 24 triples.
Jarrod Uthoff had a huge game with 25 points, but Iowa's go-to guy Aaron White was held to just six points.
Offensively Northwestern has looked pretty solid during the most recent stretch. Bryan McIntosh led them in scoring when they beat Iowa the first time around with 18 points, Tre Demps added 16. The play of Alex Olah has been influential to the success for the Wildcats as well and his battle on the inside with Adam Woodbury and White will play a major role in today's game.
Iowa has in-season revenge and they're playing for the NCAA Tournament. They'll win today, but Northwestern will keep it close.
Free Pick: Iowa 70, Northwestern 64
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