Expert Picks, Predictions & How to Watch Virginia vs Iowa

• No. 2 Iowa is a 12.5-point favorite vs No 10 Virginia in the Women’s NCAA Tournament
• Virginia has survived two down-to-the-wire finishes already in the tournament
• See below for my Virginia vs Iowa prediction, odds and how to watch Monday’s matinee

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The No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes (27-6) found themselves in a Round 1 rockfight at the Women’s NCAA Tournament, grinding out a win to move on.

Next up on Monday afternoon (2:00 pm ET) are the No. 10 Virginia Cavaliers (21-11), a team that’s only known nail biters so far at the tournament, and have so far lived to tell about it. Despite that, oddsmakers aren’t showing much confidence, as Virginia is a mighty underdog in the college basketball odds.

Read below for the latest odds, my best betting advice and how you can watch the Virginia vs Iowa on Monday.

Virginia vs Iowa Odds & Betting Lines

The books like Iowa to rebound in a big way, pegging the Hawkeyes as hefty 12.5-point favorites at FanDuel, and they’re a next-to-zero value as -1200 favorites on the moneyline.

Virginia is getting a half-point extra on the spread at bet365, and Kalshi has them at +733 to win outright.

Over bettors should be targeting FanDuel, where the total is set at 135.5 points. If you’re targeting the Under, head to bet365, where the total is set at two more points higher.

Odds as of March 23. New customers can claim a FanDuel promo code to get a bonus to bet on women’s college basketball.

Virginia vs Iowa Prediction

• Virginia +13 (-112 at bet365)

It was an upset special that Iowa’s Ava Heiden refused to take shape.

The sophomore center matched her career high with 29 points, including 12 straight in the fourth quarter, to help put away feisty 15th-seed Farleigh-Dickinson 58-48, avoiding a major upset in Round 1.

It was just a two-point game after three quarters, and the lead dwindled to a single point at 44-43, but Heiden kept getting buckets to keep the Knights from ever taking the lead, and the Hawkeyes eventually landed the plane for the win.

Heiden covered up a brutal night for the rest of her teammates, who made two less field goals than their star big’s 11-for-16 performance, and shot a pitiful 1-for-13 from 3-point range, just an 8% clip.

Their next opponent has lived in the danger zone all tournament. Virginia escaped the First Four game, with Kymora Johnson’s late 3-pointer giving the Cavaliers the lead with just 30.6 seconds remaining, eventually hanging on for a 57-55 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Virginia vs Iowa Key Stats

They used up another one of their lives on Saturday, going to overtime before eventually dispatching of the 7th-seeded Georgia Bulldogs 82-73 OT.

Johnson was again an all-around stud, leading the team in scoring with 28 points, while adding seven rebounds and six assists, while drilling 5-for-10 from downtown.

For a team that staggered down the stretch of the regular season, losing three straight games, Virginia is now a scary proposition for a team that has yet to find its groove at the NCAA Tournament.

Johnson is also cooking, leading her team in scoring in 11 of the last 13 games.

Iowa hasn’t exactly been working over its competition of late. Their game against Farleigh-Dickinson is the third time in the last six games that an opponent has kept the deficit at 10 points or less. Also tucked inside of that is a 51-point blowout at the hands of the 2nd-ranked UCLA Bruins.

If there is one advantage the Hawkeyes do own, it’s rest. Virginia will be playing its third game in five days — a stretch the Cavaliers didn’t ever face during the regular season.

That’s why I think Iowa will advance, but if Johnson can stay hot, the Cavaliers should give the Hawkeyes all they can handle.

How to Watch Virginia vs Iowa

Virginia vs Iowa goes tomorrow (Monday) afternoon at 2:00 pm ET, from Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. ESPN will be carrying the broadcast coverage for this matchup.

Iowa was 15-1 at home this season, and they were 4-1 in games that started at 2pm ET or earlier. Virginia was a respectable 6-4 away from home this season.