Indiana Hoosiers at Iowa Hawkeyes
Monday, 12/31/12, 4:00 PM EST, TV: ESPN2
Opening Point Spread: Indiana -6.5
Current Betting Line: Indiana -7
Opening Total: 150
Current Total: 150
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Indiana has won three games in a row since suffering its first loss of the season to Butler, including a dominating 93-59 victory over Jacksonville on Friday. The Hoosiers will now play their first true road game of the 2012-13 college basketball season, which could be a major challenge due to numerous injuries on the roster. The team is 11-9 away from Assembly Hall since the start of last season. Indiana is 8-3 ATS on the year, which can’t be ignored when making your NCAA basketball picks Monday.
The Hoosiers lead the nation in averaging 89.4 points per game, while also outscoring foes by an average of 30.2 points. Indiana’s biggest improvement from last year to this one has been on the boards, as it leads the Big Ten Conference in rebounding margin with a 42.1 to 29.1 advantage. All-American Cody Zeller is the player to watch on both end of the floor, averaging 16.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, while shooting a remarkable 62.6 percent from the floor.
Iowa is off to its best start since the 2004-05 campaign, wining six straight games, including an 80-50 blowout victory over Coppin State nine days ago. The Hawkeyes won that game by a large margin despite going 0 for 17 from beyond the arc, which is important to consider when looking over the college basketball odds page. “A little surprised,” stated Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffery about his team’s shooting from the perimeter. The program ranks fourth in the country in free throw makes and sixth in attempts. Iowa is 5-0 ATS in December this year.
The Hawkeyes will be trying to hold the Hoosiers under the 80-point barrier, as they’ve gone 16-2 when doing so over the last three seasons. Iowa has three players averaging in double figures the last three games, with Roy Devyn Marble leading the way, scoring 22.7 points per game during that stretch. The team has won 14 of its last 15 games, while proving victorious against ranked foes four times a year ago.
Sports bettors will likely play the total in this affair, as the Hoosiers have gone UNDER the total in five of their last six games with a number between 150 to 159.5.
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