Michigan at Iowa odds, picks and predictions

Skip Snow
Staff Writer

The Michigan Wolverines (4-5, 0-1 Big Ten) and Iowa Hawkeyes (5-4, 0-1) tussle in a Sunday matinee in Iowa City. The opening tipoff at Carver-Hawkeye Arena will be at 4:30 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Michigan vs. Iowaodds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

Michigan has lost 3 in a row straight up and against the spread (ATS). The most recent of those losses was a 78-75 home loss as a 6.5-point favorite to the Indiana Hoosiers Tuesday. UM had just 5 offensive rebounds and 4 3-pointers in that contest.

The Hawkeyes, who defeated the Wolverines 94-84 in a Jan. 12 overtime contest at home last season, are coming off back-to-back clunkers at Purdue (87-68 on Monday) and Iowa State (90-65 on Thursday). Both losses were also of the ATS variety; over the 2 games, the team with the most porous defense in the Big Ten (78.6 points per game) was outscored 177-133.

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Michigan at Iowa odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:06 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline: Michigan +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | Iowa -185 (bet $185 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Michigan +3.5 (-105) | Iowa -3.5 (-115)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 159.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Michigan at Iowa picks and predictions

Prediction

Iowa 80, Michigan 76

Moneyline

Iowa has won the last 2 meetings. It plays at a tempo similar to Michigan foes Long Beach State and Memphis, which both beat UM as underdogs.

The Hawkeyes take better care of the ball and tote it to the free-throw line more often. There is some fade-the-Wolverines lean to Michigan's compartmental shooting numbers.

FanDuel Sportsbook has the best price here: TAKE IOWA (-170).

Against the spread

PASS. Iowa is a lean. Would trigger a play at -2.5 or better with an Under prognosis.

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Over/Under

The offenses are ahead of the defenses on both sides, and this one figures to have some pace. But don't expect a lot of turnover-transition ball, and both teams are ranked in the nation's top-60 in avoiding opponent free throws.

Michigan does a credible job in forcing opponents into less dangerous mid-range shot attempts, and the Wolverines have played a tough slate of offensive teams so far, so perhaps its defense is a shade undervalued.

We can still expect plenty of points for a Big Ten battle, but peg this total as being overcooked.

BACK THE UNDER 159.5 (-110). This total has already moved 4 points lower, so consider going in small or waiting out a possible return to the 160s.

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