The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (14-6, 6-3 Big Ten) meet the Iowa Hawkeyes (12-8, 4-5) in Iowa City Sunday at 2 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Rutgers vs. Iowa odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
This will be a rematch of an Iowa 76-65 victory over Rutgers on Jan. 8. The Hawkeyes weres 5.5-point underdogs, but pulled off the 11-point victory on the road. With the Iowa offense still clicking, this game could turn into much of the same on the Hawkeyes’ home court.
Since the loss to Iowa, Rutgers has won 3 of 4 games including its last game, a 65-45 win over Penn State as 7-point favorites.
Since the win over Rutgers, Iowa is 2-4 and is on a 2-game losing streak, the most recent a 2-point loss 63-61 to Michigan State as 2.5-point underdogs.
Iowa’s offense ranked 21st in the nation at 80.7 points, but will need to solve an elite Rutgers defense that ranks 4th at just 57.0 points allowed to gain another victory. Iowa was able to solve this defense in Piscataway and will look to perform the feat again Sunday.
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Rutgers at Iowa odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:45 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rutgers +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Iowa -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Rutgers +4.5 (-120) | Iowa -4.5 (+100)
- Over/Under (O/U): 141.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Rutgers at Iowa picks and predictions
Prediction
Iowa 71, Rutgers 68
Moneyline
PASS.
The value is on Rutgers in this game but the likelihood of the Scarlet Knights pulling off the upset is small. Iowa, on its home court, will put up enough points to win the game and although -190 is not overly inflated, it is slightly too high to make a straight wager on. It would be a nice addition to a parlay though.
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Against the spread
RUTGERS +4.5 (-120).
Despite losing by 11 points to Iowa at home, Rutgers has been the better team since. With 3 wins in 4 games, the Scarlet Knights are coming in after beating Penn State by 20 in their last game while Iowa is coming in after losing 2 straight games to Ohio State and Michigan State. I give Iowa the final advantage being at home. But Rutgers and its defense will keep the game slow and close, and 4.5 points is too much in this game. The underdog has covered the spread in 9 of the past 12 meetings in this series. I expect the same here.
Over/Under
UNDER 141.5 (-110).
Rutgers is 6-1 in its last 7 games to the Under on the road. It is also 4-1 to the Under in its last 5 games after a win and when covering the spread. The Rutgers defense will hold the Hawkeyes offense down just enough to get this game Under the total of 141.5. If this number drops below 140 by gametime, I would stay away. As long as it is above this number, I would take the Under.
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