Upcoming Match-ups

Wisconsin vs Iowa Odds, Lines, and Spread

John Hyslop

by John Hyslop in College Basketball

Updated Mar 13, 2021 · 1:44 PM PST

Iowa center Luka Garza during a NCAA men's basketball game.
Iowa center Luka Garza during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Rutgers, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 79-66. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
  • The Wisconsin Badgers play the Iowa Hawkeyes in quarterfinal round of Big Ten Tournament on Friday, March 12th
  • Luka Garza and the Hawkeyes earned the highly sought-after double bye
  • See the odds, spread, analysis, and best bet, below

The quarterfinal round of the 2021 Big Ten tournament gets underway Friday when the Wisconsin Badgers (17-11, 10-10 Big Ten) meet the Iowa Hawkeyes (20-7, 14-6 Big Ten). Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 pm ET at Lucas Oil Stadium and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

Iowa has owned this series recently, taking each of the last three meetings, including a 77-73 victory last week. Iowa is a seven-point favorite this time around.

Wisconsin vs Iowa Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Wisconsin Badgers +4 (-110) OFF O 145.5 (-110)
Iowa Hawkeyes -4 (-110) OFF U 145.5 (-110)

Odds as of March 11th at FanDuel.

That victory over Wisconsin grew Iowa’s current win streak to three games.

The Badgers were in survival mode last time out against the Penn State Nittany Lions barley winning 75-74 on Thursday.

Wisconsin Barley Escapes

They say defense wins championships. If they do, the Badgers have a long way to go before they are talking about championships.

The Badgers started the Penn State game exactly where they wanted to jumping out to a 41-31 lead at the half, but the slow-paced Badgers let it slip away in the second half, allowing the Nittany Lions to 48% shooting from the field.

Penn State has the 31st-rated offense at KenPom. Iowa is second.

Iowa Will Be a Tough Out

At times this season, the Iowa Hawkeyes have looked unstoppable and at other times they looked human. The current version looks absolutely unstoppable. Led by Luka Garza, they’ve won seven of their last eight games including a huge win over Wisconsin last time out.

It’s no secret that the Hawkeyes can score the basketball. Only three teams in the entire nation average more points per game and only one team (Gonzaga) is more efficient. Even against the 17th-most-efficient defense in the nation, they were able to shoot 51% from the floor. They out rebounded the Badgers 34-23 and out scored them in the paint 38-32. It was a big boy win against a big boy team, which is exactly what Iowa needed heading into the conference tournament.

Best Betting Angle

These two teams have played twice already this season and Iowa won each time. Neither time have the Badgers had an answer for Luka Garza and this time seems to be no different. He went for 21 and 16 last Sunday and the time before that he went for 30 and eight. Wisconsin has no body that can handle him and it’s obvious at this point.

The total for this game is lower than an average Hawkeyes game due to the style Wisconsin plays. Even with the adjustment, it is hard to see this game going over the 141 total. The Hawkeyes rely on the outside shot and, if the Badgers can play average defense as they have all season, they will keep this one from turning into a track meet.

The pick: Under 145.5 (-110)

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