Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Predictions, Picks, Odds

Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

The Iowa Hawkeyes (14-7, 4-6 Big Ten) travel to meet the Ohio State Buckeyes (13-5, 6-3) in a Big Ten conference battle on Thursday at Value City Arena in Columbus. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on FOX Sports 1.

SCORE PREDICTION

Ohio State 79, Iowa 71

BEST BETS

Ohio State -5 (-110) at William Hill

Under 153 (-110) at DraftKings

IOWA HAWKEYES VS. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES PREDICTIONS

The Hawkeyes are looking to snap a two-game skid. Losing at home against Purdue last Thursday isn't embarrassing, as Iowa fell 83-73 as two-point underdogs. But an overtime loss at Penn State as five-point favorites is not a good loss. Defense has gone into the pichadoo, too, as the Hawkeyes have allowed 86.5 PPG in the two losses after yielding 49.5 PPG in the previous two games.

The Buckeyes suffered a loss at Purdue on Sunday, but it was a respectable 81-78 loss as 9.5-point underdogs, easily hitting the number. In fact, Ohio State has covered three in a row, which is a season high. The past two wins have not only been inside the conference, but on the road. So they're battled tested and ready to rock. The last time the Buckeyes were home, they stepped out of conference to rough up IUPUI of the Horizon League, 83-37 as 33-point favorites.

IOWA HAWKEYES VS. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES BETTING ODDS

• Iowa +200
• Ohio State -240
• Iowa +5.5 (-110)
• Ohio State -5 (-110)
• Over 152.5 (-110)
• Under 153 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

IOWA HAWKEYES VS. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES BETTING RESOURCES

• Matchup: Big 10
• Date: Thursday, February 3, 2022
• Venue: Value City Arena
• Location: Columbus, Ohio
• TV-Time: FS1 - 8:00 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

IOWA HAWKEYES BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 14-7
• ATS: 12-9
• O/U: 15-5-1

As mentioned, the Hawkeyes have dropped two in a row, and they're 1-3 SU/ATS across the past four outings. The good news is that Iowa hasn't failed to cover three or more in a row since an 0-5 ATS slide from Jan. 21-Feb. 7, 2021 last season, a stretch which included a game against Ohio State. The last meeting went to the Buckeyes, 89-85 in Iowa City on Feb. 4, 2021.

The Hawkeyes are 1-4 ATS in the past five games on the road, while going 1-4 ATS in the past five on the road against teams with a winning record at home, too. The good news is that Iowa has posted an 18-8 ATS mark in the past 26 following a straight-up win.

For totals, the OVER is 19-7-1 in the past 27 games overall, while going 8-2 in the past 10 games following a non-cover and 5-2 in the past seven after a straight-up loss. However, the UNDER is 10-4 in the past 14 road games, while going 9-4 in the past 13 on the road against teams with a winning overall mark at home.

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 13-5
• ATS: 9-9
• O/U: 12-6

The Buckeyes have covered each of the past three games, and the run is a season high against the number. The last time the Bucks fired off three or more covers in a row during the regular season was a 5-0 ATS run from Jan. 31-Feb. 18, 2021, a stretch which included a trip to Iowa City.The Buckeyes have rattled off five covers in the past seven games at home. For totals, the OVER has cashed in 12 of the past 17 games overall, while hitting in eight of the past 11 as a favorite. The OVER is also 5-2 in the past seven against teams with a winning overall record.

In this series, the favorite is 6-2 ATS in the past eight meetings, with the home team 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings.

Iowa is 1-4 ATS in the past five games on the road. (AP)

INSIDE THE STATS - IOWA HAWKEYES

• Record: 14-7
• VI Ranking: 43
• PS/G: 82.6 (6th)
• PA/G: 71.0 (237th)
• ORtg: 115.4 (7th)
• DRtg: 99.0 (181st)

INSIDE THE STATS - OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

• Record: 13-5
• VI Ranking: 19
• PS/G: 75.3 (89th)
• PA/G: 68.0 (155th)
• ORtg: 112.5 (24th)
• DRtg: 101.7 (255th)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

• IOWA: Keegan Murray - F (22.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.1 BPG, 1.4 SPG, 1.1 APG)
• IOWA: Kyle Murray - F (10.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.1 BPG)
• OHST: Malaki Branham - G (10.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.9 APG, 39.1 3P%)
• OHST: E.J. Liddell - F (19.7 PPG, 7.5 PPG, 2.8 APG, 2.7 BPG)

IOWA HAWKEYES VS. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES BETTING CONCLUSION

The big story in this game is that Connor McCaffrey is nursing an arm injury which he suffered in the Penn State game, and he is a major question mark for this game. The exact source and severity of his injury isn't known, but if he sits, and again, that sounds likely, it's a big blow to the team since he ranks second on the team with 11.1 PPG, while posting 3.5 RPG and 1.7 APG in 19 games.

Iowa has struggled on the road, and facing a good Buckeyes team with one of its top scorers on the shelf won't help them pull out of a nosedive. Ohio State is whole, and it has been playing well at home. In fact, the Buckeyes are 9-0 SU this season, while covering five of the past seven, at home. That includes wins over Duke and Wisconsin. Iowa isn't going to derail this Buckeyes train.

IOWA HAWKEYES VS. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES BETTING TRENDS

• Iowa is 1-4 ATS in the past five road games.
• Iowa is 1-4 ATS in the past five road games vs. teams with a winning home record.
• Ohio State is 5-2 ATS in the past seven home games.
• The OVER is 19-7-1 in the past 27 games for Iowa.
• The UNDER is 10-4 in the past 14 road games for Iowa.
• The UNDER is 6-2 in the past eight as a road 'dog for Iowa.
• The OVER is 12-5 in the past 17 games for Ohio State.
• The OVER is 8-3 in the past 11 as a favorite for Ohio State.
• The OVER is 5-2 in the past seven vs. winning teams for Ohio State.
• The favorite is 6-2 ATS in the past eight meetings.
• The home team is 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings.

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish