The first round of March Madness kicks off as the Auburn Tigers face the Iowa Hawkeyes at 6:50 p.m. EDT on Thursday, March 16 on TNT. The spread has the Tigers at and the Hawkeyes on the moneyline to win the game. The point total is set at . In this article we break down everything you need to know before placing a bet on Iowa March Madness odds, including team matchups, key metrics, and best available odds.
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Iowa vs. Auburn betting odds
Betting the point spread is when you wager on how many points a team will win or lose by. A plus sign in front of the spread denotes the underdog, and a minus sign denotes the favorite. Betting the moneyline is simply betting on which particular team will win the game.
The betting total is the number of combined points the two teams will score. Bettors can choose to bet the over or under on how many total points will be scored in the game. To place a bet on Iowa March Madness odds, click on the odds in the table.
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Iowa vs. Auburn players props
Browse and search NCAAM Player Props below among Iowa vs. Auburn odds. To place a bet, click on the odds in the table. This is a valuable tool that allows bettors to quickly compare odds and numbers when considering a prop bet. Shopping for the best prop number can be the difference in winning and losing a bet. Betting on college basketball player props is only available in CT, DC, IA, IL, IN LA, MD, NJ, OH, WA, WV, and WY; however, CT IA, IL, and NJ do not allow you to bet player props for players on in-state teams.
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Iowa March Madness Futures
Why Iowa Can Cover
The strength of this Hawkeyes team lies in their offense, as they own the third-rated adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom. Iowa’s elite spacing and passing on offense make them a tough team to match up against. It’s guided by do-it-all junior Kris Murray, averaging 20.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest. Murray’s versatile scoring ability will be problematic and should lead to easy buckets for himself and his teammates.
Additionally, Iowa’s height should be a problem for Auburn, most notably on the offensive glass. Per Haslametrics, the Hawkeyes rank No. 6 in second-chance conversion percentage, meaning that they are one of the best teams at converting second-chance opportunities to points. Even with an elite rebounder in Johni Broome occupying the paint for the Tigers, Filip Rebraca (2.9 ORPG) and Murray (2.8 ORPG), should be able to feast on the offensive glass for the Hawkeyes.
Moreover, the Hawkeyes’ pace could prove problematic for the Tigers at the charity stripe. The Tigers rank No. 331 in the opponent’s free-throw attempt rate (39.1%), meaning that Auburn fouls a lot. It may rear its ugly head for Auburn if Iowa controls the tempo of this game and keeps it fast paced.
Why Auburn Can Cover
On the flip side, Bruce Pearl‘s squad is led by their defense, ranking 29th in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. Its excellent defensive rating is due in large part to its suffocating ball pressure. The Tigers’ press has helped them hold opponents to a woeful 28.8% from behind the arc, the fifth lowest in college basketball. Senior wing Allen Flanigan will likely draw the assignment of slowing down Murray. Although he gives up size, his harassing pressure causes issues for opponents. Look no further than their two matchups against Alabama, when Flanigan held freshman phenom Brandon Miller to 1-13 from beyond the arc. If Iowa scuffles against ball pressure as they did in losses to Rutgers and Northwestern, Fran McCaffrey’s squad can be looking at another first-round exit.
As many Big Ten fans know, Iowa has been down-right putrid on the road. According to Haslametrics, the Hawkeyes rank No. 3 nationally in away/home court advantage. At Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa averaged a whopping 88.1 ppg in Big Ten play, averaging only 68.6 points away from home against their conference foes. Their fantastic perimeter shooting has not traveled with them. In 10 road games in conference play, the Hawkeyes shot a miserable 30.3% clip from deep. Iowa will play this game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, a quick 2.5-hour drive for Auburn faithful.
Additionally, Iowa’s defense is susceptible to pick-and-roll screen action. Auburn will undoubtedly look to expose this. According to ShotQuality, the Tigers boast a top-70 efficiency in that category. Expect plenty of screens, forcing the Hawkeyes’ defense into scramble mode.
Although Auburn’s perimeter shooting is due for some negative regression, I wouldn’t count on it happening against Iowa. Over the Tigers’ last four games, Auburn has shot a surprising 40.5% from the perimeter. A pair of those games were against the SEC’s best 3-point defenses in Alabama and Tennessee, respectively. Iowa has allowed opponents to shoot 36.6% from the perimeter, which ranks bottom-50 in the nation. In fact, they were even worst in the Big Ten, allowing opponents to shoot a blistering 40.1% in conference games.
Final Thoughts
Although Iowa’s offense is elite and their height is an issue, I’m willing to take a shot on Auburn cranking up the pressure against an Iowa team that has struggled away from home. Iowa is 4-7 ATS in road games this season. In neutral site games, the Hawkeyes are 0-4 ATS. Good luck betting on Iowa March Madness odds.
Derek’s Bet: Auburn +1.5 (placed Sunday evening at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Best Available Line: Auburn
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