The Michigan at Iowa betting matchup for Thursday night seems like a good one on paper, but the Hawkeyes (10-6) are somewhat surprising -5.5 favorites in this matchup with 9-6 UM. The Wolverines have had some issues in non-conference play this year, but are off to a decent 3-1 start in Big Ten play.
Iowa has struggled with consistency following their 6-1 start to the season, and they’re no 2-3 in the conference thanks to a 76-65 victory at Rutgers on Sunday as +5.5 underdogs. Michigan has won 7 of the last 10 head to head meetings in this series, big reason why 62% of the betting public is taking the points in this spot.
Michigan Needs an Offensive Rejuvenation
The Wolverines are 7th in the Big Ten in scoring (74.5 ppg) but that offense was nowhere to be found in Saturday’s 59-53 loss at rival Michigan State as +3.5 underdogs. The 53 points was a season low for Juwan Howard’s squad, who shot 19-55 from the field and a measly 3-20 (15%) from three point range.
UM should see some much better scoring numbers in the Michigan at Iowa betting matchup considering the Hawkeyes have the worst defense in the Big Ten (72.1) and run the conference’s fastest pace. The Wolverines have scored at least 70 points in six straight vs. Iowa, and have gone 4-2 in those matchups.
Hunter Dickinson had 18 points in the loss to Michigan State, not bad considering that’s 1/3 of the team’s total of 53. Dickinson had 32 points and 12 rebounds on New Year’s Day to help key a big win over Maryland, and the 7’1, 260 pound center should thrive against an undersized Iowa team.
Has Iowa Turned Things Around?
The Hawkeyes started off the year 6-1 with their only loss coming against what looks to be a really good 13-2 TCU squad. Iowa is 4-5 since then and if that sub.500 isn’t bad enough, some of the losses Iowa has had are downright astonishing headlined obviously by the 92-83 home loss to Eastern Illinois as -31 point favorites on December 21st.
The fact alone that Iowa dropped the EIU game gives you reservations about taking them -5.5 against Michigan, and they’ve also lost 66-50 at Nebraska as -4.5 point favorites. Right when you start fading the Hawkeyes they’ve bounced back with a 91-89 win against Indiana (to barely cover -1), and most recently beat Rutgers 76-65 at +5.5. The Scarlet Knights are now 10-2 at home this season and have beaten #1 Purdue.
Payton Sandfort had 22 points in 22 minutes against Rutgers but it was really the Iowa defense that showed up on the road to key the big conference win.
Free Michigan at Iowa Betting Pick
Both teams have been wildly inconsistent this season, but Iowa still can’t be trusted after their horrible losses to Eastern Illinois and Nebraska. Make no mistake Michigan did nothing to impress in last week’s 59-53 loss at Michigan State, but that’s still a solid defensive showing and it leaves the Wolverines in a spot for a big bounce back.
Free Pick: Michigan Wolverines +5.5
