Northwestern Wildcats vs. Iowa Hawkeyes: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 1/31/2023

Time: 9 p.m. ET

Venue: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA

Where to watch: Big Ten Network

DraftKings: Iowa -7; Iowa -285, NW +240

FanDuel: Iowa -6.5; Iowa -295, NW +235

BetMGM: Iowa -6.5

Caesars: Iowa -6.5

Northwestern: 15-5 (6-3 Big Ten)

Iowa: 13-8 (5-5 Big Ten)

Northwestern: won 81-61 vs. Minnesota

Iowa: won 93-82 vs. Rutgers

The Northwestern Wildcats will look to win their fourth consecutive game and keep pace atop the Big 10 standings when they travel to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes on Tuesday inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

 

Rest assured that this game isn't going to do anything for the top of the big 10 standings because that's still belongs to the top team in the country, the Purdue Boilermakers. But Northwestern is suddenly in second place in the conference and can really put some much needed separation on themselves and perhaps Iowa with the victory.

 

Northwestern is coming off an 81-61 victory over the Minnesota golden Gophers over this past weekend. It was a brilliant offensive showing by the Wildcats, getting 24 points from Chris Audige and 21 points and eight assists from Boo Buie. Northwestern went on to shoot 52% from the field and went nine of 20 from 3 point range in the victory. It also helped that Northwestern turned the ball over just four times compared to Minnesota’s 15.

 

In addition to winning their last three games outright, Northwestern has found a way to cover in the last three, including being 12 point favorites against Minnesota. The last three games have been the first time in seemingly a very long time that Northwestern has been favored by three straight games. At the very least, the Wildcats have proven that they are at least in a different echelon in the Big 10.

 

Iowa found a way to rebound after losing two in a row with a big time 93-82 victory at home over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Sunday. After losing by 16 at Ohio State and losing by two at Michigan State, Iowa was able to win this game by shooting 29 of 34 from the free throw line and getting a balanced scoring effort from those on the court.

 

Kris Murray Had a game high 24 points and six rebounds to help pace the Iowa offense. Ahron Ulis Also had 16 points, as Iowa shot just 43% from the floor, but won the game by making 19 more free throws than Rutgers. Sometimes, it's all about making the shots that are free.

 

Iowa has been on A roll in the betting world as of late period the Hawkeyes have covered in six of the last seven games, the only one being a flat out loss despite being 3 point underdogs against Ohio State. Other than that, Iowa has been reliable whether getting the points or laying them, and the fact that they are laying 6.5 against a very good Northwestern team really intrigues me.

 

The favorite has covered in the last five meetings which gives a lot of leeway to wanting to pick Iowa in this game. But there's something about the way Northwestern has been able to play on the road that makes me believe that they can actually win this game. And the fact that they're getting those 6 1/2 points which is the most they've gotten since winning at Indiana on January 8th, I think the Wildcats have a chance here. Northwestern 81, Iowa 77

Northwestern is 14-12 ATS on the road the last 3 seasons.

Northwestern is 6-3 ATS following a conference game this season.

Iowa is 31-14 ATS as a home favorite the last 3 seasons.

PG: Boo Buie

SG: Chase Audige

SF: Ty Berry

PF: Robbie Beran

C: Matt Nicholson

PG: Ahron Ulis

SG: Tony Perkins

SF: Connor McCaffery

PF: Kris Murray

C: Filip Rebraca

Points: Chase Audige -- 15.8

Rebounds: Matt Nicholson -- 6.2

Assists: Boo Buie -- 4.4

Points: Kris Murray -- 20.8

Rebounds: Kris Murray -- 8.6

Assists: Connor McCaffery -- 3.0