The Iowa Hawkeyes (15-5) visit the Maryland Terrapins (16-4) Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET in a Big Ten battle at Xfinity Center in College Park, MD. We analyze the Iowa-Maryland odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.
Iowa at Maryland: Three things you need to know
- Iowa beat Maryland by 18 points (67-49) in Iowa City Jan. 10. The 18th-ranked team in the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll has bombed its way to four straight victories since. Over the five-game win streak, Iowa has shot 37.7% from beyond the 3-point arc.
- No. 15 Maryland allowed an aggregate 52% field-goal accuracy mark (and a 46% mark from 3-point-land) over its last two games, both losses on the road. That’s part of a trend that has seen the Terrapins defense struggle away from home. But recent home games? Maryland has held foes to 36%, 31% and 36%, respectively, over its last three contests in College Park.
- Junior C Luka Garza scored 21 points against the Terps when Iowa and Maryland last met. He has scored 20-plus in four straight games since and has averaged 26 points per game over the five-game span. Garza has had some big road games this season and will be a key performer Thursday.
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Iowa at Maryland: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Maryland 73, Iowa 67
Moneyline (ML)
PASS. Iowa (+200) is the lean, but its a line bracketed by a juice cushion without much value.
Against the Spread (ATS)
Iowa is 4-0-2 against the spread over its last six games against teams playing .600 basketball. Over the last five meetings between these two programs, the underdog is 4-1.
The Hawkeyes carry in solid momentum, and the IOWA (+5.5, -106) line is a slight lean. But Maryland has a strong home-court advantage. In a game where the Under is advisable (see below), a line-watch for a +6 would be a wise move. If it’s not there, move on.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Under is 4-0 in the Hawkeyes’ last four games as a road favorite, 6-2 in Iowa’s last eight vs. winning teams, 5-1 in the Terrapins’ last six home games and 6-2 in Maryland’s last eight games as an underdog.
This is a fast-paced team (Iowa) against one wanting to slow things down (Maryland). Including their Jan. 10 game against the Terps, the Under has prevailed the last three times Iowa played a slow-down team. The UNDER 145.5 (-110) has value — enough so for a moderate play.
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