Indiana vs Iowa Basketball Prediction & Picks: Can the Hawkeyes avoid a fourth straight loss?

After not playing for almost two weeks, Indiana will take the court for the first time in 2023 as the #15 Hoosiers (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) visit the Iowa Hawkeyes (8-6, 0-3 Big Ten) in Iowa City.

Tonight’s tilt at Carver-Hawkeye Arena is set for a 9:00 pm ET (8:00 pm local time) tip and can be seen on FS1.

The Hoosiers haven’t played since December 23, when they defeated Kennesaw State 69-55. So, there may some rust to shake off tonight.

But the struggling Hawkeyes are in the midst of a rough stretch, having lost three straight and five of seven, and they are shorthanded as well.

Who will emerge victorious tonight in Iowa City? Read on for our Indiana vs Iowa prediction, as well as our Hoosiers vs Hawkeyes picks and analysis.

Indiana vs Iowa Odds

Odds are via BetOnline as of Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 4:00 pm ET. This article may also include odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.

Spread

• Indiana +1.5 (-110)
• Iowa -1.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 152.5 (-115)
• Under 152.5 (-105)

Moneyline

• Indiana +100
• Iowa -120

Is There a Light at the End of the Tunnel for Iowa?

It has been a rough month for Iowa, in multiple ways.

Since starting 6-1, things have unraveled for the Hawkeyes, and they enter tonight’s game with consecutive losses to Eastern Illinois, Nebraska, and Penn State.

They also enter tonight’s game shorthanded, as Patrick McCaffery, the team’s third-leading scorer and son of head coach Fran McCaffery, is out indefinitely to address his mental health.

But after a dismal outside shooting performance in their shocking loss to Eastern Illinois–which came without leading scorer Kris Murray and key reserve Conor McCaffery–and an abysmal overall shooting performance in their 66-50 loss at Nebraska, there were some good things to take from the Hawkeyes’ 83-79 loss at Penn State on Sunday.

After going 12 of 45 (26.7%) on two-point shots against the Huskers, the Hawkeyes were 21 of 38 (55.3%) on two-pointers against the Nittany Lions.

The threes still aren’t falling for Iowa, who is 21 of 86 (24.4%) from outside in this three-game losing streak.

But Murray had 32 and shot 60% from the field against Penn State after shooting only 40% from the field against Nebraska in his return from a four-game absence, Tony Perkins scored 17 after being held to three against the Huskers, and Filip Rebraca continued his solid scoring with 13 against PSU.

So, there is certainly something to build on for Iowa, especially Rebraca’s current form. He averaged 16.8 PPG at North Dakota two seasons ago and emerged as a key scoring option during Murray’s absence. Continuing that will be vital to the Hawkeyes’ hopes of remaining in the NCAA Tournament conversation.

Indiana vs Iowa Prediction and Picks

Indiana vs Iowa Prediction: Iowa to win

Indiana vs Iowa Picks: Iowa ML (Best Value: BetOnline & BetMGM) & Iowa team total over 76.5 (Best Value: Bovada Sportsbook)

While Iowa is shorthanded and struggling, Indiana is still Indiana. And I don’t mean that in a particularly positive light.

The Hoosiers did get some valuable experience in not being able to rely on Trayce Jackson-Davis, who missed their wins over Elon and Kennesaw State with back issues but should be back in action tonight.

But I’m still not a big believer in a team who depends so much on one player and is only so good even when that one player is at his best.

And I still do not trust them at all when it comes to tough road games. They did well to beat Xavier on the road, but they needed a 30-point game from TJD to do it, and they stunk it up at Rutgers.

It is telling that the Hawkeyes are still favored tonight despite being in the midst of a losing streak and not having one of their top players.

Indiana may well surprise me, and these are the kinds of games that they need to win to show that they are actually the team that they were expected to be. But they haven’t shown enough to make them a worthwhile play tonight in Iowa City.

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