Utah Runnin’ Utes vs Iowa Hawkeyes NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/24
Planning on watching today’s Runnin’ Utes and Hawkeyes game? Catch the action at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD, as the Hawkeyes hosts this showdown at 6:00 ET on ESPN. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 164 points, and Iowa is favored by -1 at home against Utah.
UTAH RUNNIN’ UTES VS IOWA HAWKEYES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Iowa Hawkeyes -1
This game will be played at Sanford Pentagon at 6:00 ET on Saturday, December 21st.
WHY BET THE IOWA HAWKEYES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 80-67 in favor of the Hawkeyes.
- Not only will Iowa pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -1.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 164 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.
Do the Runnin’ Utes Have a Shot at a Road Win?
Utah Runnin’ Utes Recent Game/Games
Utah improved to 8-2 on the season with an 89-59 home win over Florida A&M on Tuesday. The Utes were heavy favorites at -32 going into the game, but they didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 148, just under the O/U line of 151.5.
Utah took control early, leading 50-31 at halftime. They added 39 points in the 2nd half while holding Florida A&M to 28 points.
Utah’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 89 points while shooting 54.8% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 64.5%, thanks in large part to their 69.7% shooting on two-point attempts. From beyond the arc, they hit 37.9% of their shots, connecting on 11 of 29 attempts.
Despite their shooting success, the Utes struggled at the free-throw line, hitting just 41.7% of their attempts. They dished out 25 assists, with Mason Madsen and Mike Sharavjamts each contributing 15 points. Sharavjamts was particularly efficient, shooting 85.7% from the field and 75% from three-point range in just 17 minutes of action.
Utah’s defense gave up 59 points, allowing their opponent to shoot 54% from the field, including 69% on two-point attempts (23/33). From beyond the arc, the opposition hit 11 of 29 threes, good for 37%.
Despite sending their opponent to the line 24 times, Utah caught a break as they only made 10 free throws, shooting 41%. The Utes also gave up 13 offensive rebounds.
Can Iowa Live Up to the Hype at Home?
The Hawkeyes improved to 8-3 on the season after a dominant 104-57 win over New Orleans on Sunday. Iowa, who were -30.5 favorites, covered the spread with ease. The game’s total points of 161 fell just short of the 162.5 O/U line.
Iowa jumped out to a 57-29 lead by halftime and continued their strong play in the second half, outscoring the Privateers 47-28.
Iowa’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 104 points with a field goal percentage of 62.7% (42/67). Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 73.1%, thanks to 73.7% shooting on two-pointers (28/38) and 48.3% from beyond the arc (14/29).
James White led the way with 24 points, while Owen Freeman added 22 on 10/12 shooting. The Hawkeyes dished out 28 assists, with Brock Harding contributing 6 assists and hitting all 3 of his three-point attempts.
Even with Iowa’s defense giving up 62% shooting, they managed to hold their opponent to 57 points. The Hawkeyes allowed 73% shooting on two-pointers, with the other team hitting 28 of 38 shots.
From beyond the arc, Iowa’s opponent went 14 for 29, shooting 48%. They also went to the free-throw line 9 times, making 6 of those attempts.