Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Iowa Hawkeyes NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/7/25

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Cornhuskers and Hawkeyes. The game is starting at 8:00 ET on PEAC, and it’s hosted by the Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, IA. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 160.5 points, and Iowa is favored by -4.5 to win at home against Nebraska.

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS VS IOWA HAWKEYES BETTING PICK

The Pick: Iowa Hawkeyes -4.5

This game will be played at Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 8:00 ET on Tuesday, January 7th.

WHY BET THE IOWA HAWKEYES:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-69 in favor of the Hawkeyes.
• Not only will Iowa pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -4.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 160.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.

Is a Road Win Possible for the Cornhuskers?

Nebraska improved to 12-2 on the season with a 66-58 win over UCLA on Saturday. The Cornhuskers, who were -3 favorites, covered the spread with the victory. The game’s total points of 124 fell short of the 133.5 O/U line.

After a 24-24 tie at halftime, Nebraska pulled away by scoring 42 points in the second half while allowing 34.

Nebraska’s offense struggled in their last game, shooting just 32.7% from the field and 28% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 38.5%, but they managed to score 66 points, thanks in part to hitting 25 of 29 free throws (86.2%).

Brice Williams shot 2 of 12, but contributed 16 points and 6 rebounds, while Tyler Bilodeau added 15 points, shooting 6 of 9 from the field. Andrew Morgan was efficient, hitting 4 of 5 shots for 12 points in 21 minutes.

Even with Nebraska sending their opponent to the line 29 times, the Cornhuskers’ defense held strong, giving up just 58 points. They limited their opponent to 32% shooting from the field, with only 17 made baskets.

Nebraska’s defense was effective both inside and out, holding their opponent to 37% on two-point attempts (10/27) and 28% from beyond the arc (7/25). They also gave up 9 offensive rebounds.

Can Iowa Secure a Home Victory?

Iowa dropped to 10-4 on the season after a tough 116-85 loss to Wisconsin on Friday. The Hawkeyes, who were +6.5 point underdogs going into the game, not only lost but failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points reached 201, well over the pre-game O/U line of 162.5.

After trailing 54-43 at halftime, Iowa couldn’t close the gap in the 2nd half, scoring 42 points while allowing 62. The Hawkeyes will need to regroup after this lopsided defeat.

In their last game, Iowa put up 85 points, shooting 48.5% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 54.5%. They hit 37.5% from three-point range, connecting on 9 of 24 attempts, and made 54.8% of their two-point shots.

John Blackwell led the way with 32 points, hitting 6 of 10 threes and adding 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Drew Thelwell contributed 25 points, shooting 64.3% from the field and 60% from beyond the arc.

Despite Iowa’s defensive struggles, the Hawkeyes still managed to put up 116 points in their last game. They shot 64% from the field, hitting 40 of their 62 attempts. Inside the arc, they went 19/31, good for 61% shooting.

Iowa was even better from three-point range, where they knocked down 21 of 31 attempts, a 67% success rate. They also made 15 of 17 free throws, shooting 88% from the line. The Hawkeyes grabbed 8 offensive rebounds in the game.