The Iowa Hawkeyes (13-6 overall, 7-5 Big Ten) host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (11-6, 7-6) Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Below, we analyze the Rutgers-Iowa college basketball odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The Hawkeyes are No. 16 in the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Rutgers at Iowa: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:40 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rutgers +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | Iowa -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rutgers +6.5 (-110) | Iowa -6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 151.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Rutgers at Iowa: Three things to know
- Iowa escaped with a 77-75 road victory in the first head-to-head meeting with Rutgers this season Jan. 2. Freshman F Keegan Murray (14 points) gave Iowa the lead for good at 76-75 with two free throws at the 17-second mark. The game had six lead changes in the final 1:59 and Rutgers covered the spread as a 3.5-point underdog. The Knights likely would have won had they shot better from the free-throw line where they finished a woeful 4-for-12.
- That loss started a five-game skid for the Scarlet Knights, but they have since won four in a row. They most recently claimed a nip-and-tuck battle with Minnesota 76-72 Thursday as a 5.5-point home favorite. Junior G Ron Harper Jr. averages a team-best 16.8 points per game, and junior C Myles Johnson leads the Knights in rebounds (8.9 RPG) and blocks (2.4 BPG).
- Iowa was 12-2 in mid-January but has since dropped 4 of its last 5 games. The Hawkeyes’ most recent setback was a 67-65 defeat at Indiana Sunday as a 3.5-point favorite. Senior C Luka Garza finished with 18 points and just 2 rebounds, well below his nation-leading 25.5 PPG and team-best 8.4 RPG.
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Rutgers at Iowa: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Iowa 85, Rutgers 81
Money line (ML)
AVOID. Iowa is 8-2 all time vs. Rutgers, including 3-1 at home. The Hawkeyes should win here, but the -300 ML price is not worth the trouble.
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Against the spread (ATS)
Back RUTGERS +6.5 (-110). While the Scarlet Knights’ four victories in their current winning streak have come against the lower half of the Big Ten standings, taking the points makes sense here.
The way Iowa has been playing lately – 1-4 straight up and 0-5 ATS – the Hawkeyes are not worthy of being more than 5-point favorites against a good conference foe.
ATS: Rutgers 8-8-1 | Iowa 10-9
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 151.5 (-110) is the STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager. Iowa’s 87.8 PPG ranks third in the country and first in the Big Ten. Rutgers averages 72.6 PPG to rank 152nd in the nation and eighth in the conference.
The big issue is Iowa’s defense. It ranks 12th out of the 14 teams in the conference by allowing 75.8 PPG in Big Ten games.
O/U records: Rutgers 9-7-1 | Iowa 12-7
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| Johnny’s 2020-21 CBK record / Strongest plays | 58-45-1 / 25-25 |
| 2020-21 CBK return on investment | +7.825 |
| CBK record since Jan. 1 / Strongest plays / ROI | 43-28-1 / 20-15 / +14.55 |
| 2021 record (all sports) / Strongest plays / ROI | 57-36-1 / 29-17 / +25.45 |
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