Northwestern Wildcats vs Iowa Hawkeyes NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/3/24
Looking to win big? The Wildcats and Hawkeyes face off at 7:00 ET on PEAC. The Hawkeyes are hosting the game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, IA. This Big Ten conference matchup has an over/under of 147.5 points, and Iowa is favored to win by -5.5 at home vs. Northwestern.
NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS VS IOWA HAWKEYES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Iowa Hawkeyes -5.5
This game will be played at Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 7:00 ET on Tuesday, December 3rd.
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 -5.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 147.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.
Can the Wildcats Pull Out the Win as Road Underdogs?
Northwestern Wildcats Recent Game/Games
Northwestern improved to 6-2 on the season with a 66-61 road win over UNLV on Friday, November 29th. The Wildcats, who were favored by 3.5 points, covered the spread with the victory. The total points for the game were 127, falling under the O/U line of 135.5.
Northwestern led 26-25 at halftime and picked up the pace in the 2nd half, scoring 40 points while allowing 36.
Northwestern’s offense put up 66 points in their last game, shooting 40.8% from the field. They connected on 44.4% of their threes, hitting 8 of 18 attempts, while their two-point shooting was just 38.7% (12/31). At the free-throw line, they went 18 for 26, good for 69.2%.
Brooks Barnhizer led the way with 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, hitting 4 of 7 from deep. Dedan Thomas Jr. added 17 points, and Jalen Leach and Jailen Bedford each contributed 15 points, with Leach going 3 for 3 from beyond the arc.
Northwestern’s defense held their opponent to 61 points, allowing them to shoot 42% from the field on 24 of 57 attempts. Inside the arc, they gave up 18 two-point field goals on 39 attempts, a 46% shooting rate.
From three-point range, Northwestern’s defense limited their opponent to 6 made threes on 18 attempts, a 33% success rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 10 times, where they made 7, shooting 70%. Northwestern allowed 13 offensive rebounds in the game.
Taking a Look at the Hawkeyes Chances at Home
Iowa improved to 6-1 on the season with a 110-77 home win over USC Upstate on Tuesday. The Hawkeyes entered the game as -28.5 favorites and covered the spread, while the combined 187 points exceeded the over/under line of 168.5.
After leading 55-28 at halftime, Iowa matched their first-half output with another 55 points in the second half. However, they allowed 49 points to the Spartans after the break.
Iowa’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their latest game, putting up 110 points while shooting 60.6% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 69%, with the Hawkeyes hitting 68.9% of their two-point attempts and 46.2% from beyond the arc, connecting on 12 of 26 three-point shots.
Brock Harding and Brit Harris each scored 20 points, with Harding also dishing out 10 assists. Josh Dix added 14 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 71.4% from the field. Iowa finished with 24 assists as a team, and went 12-for-15 from the free-throw line, shooting 80%.
Despite Iowa’s defensive struggles, they managed to put up 77 points in their last game. The Hawkeyes shot 60% from the field, hitting 43 of their 71 attempts.
From beyond the arc, Iowa connected on 12 of 26 three-point attempts, good for 46%. They also went 12/15 from the free-throw line, shooting 80%.