Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Predictions, Picks, Odds

The Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-8) will travel to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes (14-7) in a Big 10 showdown. Tip off is scheduled for 4:30 P.M. at Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, and can be viewed on the Big Ten Network. 

SCORE PREDICTION

Iowa 78, Minnesota 66

BEST BETS

Iowa -11 (-110) at Atlantis

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS VS. IOWA HAWKEYES PREDICTIONS

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have lost three straight games after losing to fourth ranked Purdue, 88-73 this past Wednesday night. All eight of Minnesota’s losses have come against top 30 teams in the NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) rankings. Minnesota has struggled during conference play this season with a 2-8 record, which puts them 13th in the Big 10. This will be another tough matchup for the Golden Gophers as Iowa ranks sixth in the nation in scoring. 

Iowa’s most recent game scheduled against Ohio State was postponed due to inclement weather. Prior to that, the Hawkeyes had lost two straight including an 86-90 double OT loss to Penn State. Iowa is currently ninth in the Big Ten with a 4-6 conference record. Despite their average record, the Hawkeyes are a very dangerous team with how well they score the ball. The bad news for Iowa is they will be without head coach Fran McCaffery, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. 

Iowa won the first meeting between these two teams, 81-71 on January 16th at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Gophers were not at full strength during this game as they were missing Senior forward Eric Curry and Senior guard Sean Sutherlin. While these guys will be good to go on Sunday, I do not think it will be enough to beat Iowa on their home floor. Backing the Hawkeyes in this one. 

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS VS. IOWA HAWKEYES BETTING ODDS

  • Iowa -700
  • Minnesota +500
  • Iowa -11 (-110)
  • Minnesota +11 (-110)
  • Over 147.5 (-110)
  • Under 147.5 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS VS. IOWA HAWKEYES BETTING RESOURCES

  • Matchup: Big 10
  • Date: Sunday, February 6, 2022
  • Venue: Carver-Hawkeye Arena
  • Location: Iowa City, Iowa
  • TV-Time: BTN - 4:30 p.m. ET

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

  • SU: 11-8
  • ATS: 9-10
  • O/U: 12-7

Minnesota has struggled to cover on the season with a 9-10 ATS record. In their last 10 games, the Golden Gophers have covered just three times. Minnesota is 1-4 SU and ATS in their last five matchups against Iowa. The total has gone over 12 times this season for Minnesota and has gone over in four of their last five games played. The total has also gone over in six of the last seven games against Big 10 opponents. 

The Golden Gophers will have to be better on the offensive side of the ball if they want to hang around with Iowa in this one. On the season they are averaging 68.9 PPG (237th), 12.5 APG (221st), 45.6 FG% (97th), 36.2 3PT% (65th), and 31.2 RPG (337th). Rebounding the ball has been a big struggle for Minnesota this season, and could be a key factor in Sunday’s game. Keep an eye on senior guard Payton Willis, who is coming off a 24 point/10 assist performance against Purdue this past week. 

Minnesota’s defense has looked good against weaker opponents, but have yet to put together a solid performance in conference play. Coming into Sunday’s matchup they are allowing 67.8 PPG (142nd), 43.9% from the field (238th), 30% from three (38th), and averaging 5.5 SPG (282nd), and 2.9 BPG (212th). Iowa has been a scoring machine this season, so the Gophers defense will need to be at their best to keep this one from slipping away. 

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

Iowa has been profitable on the season with a 12-9 ATS record, with eight of the covers coming at home. The Hawkeyes have seen a lot of success when playing at home winning SU in 15 of their last 17 games at Carver Hawkeye Arena. Iowa’s high scoring offense is a huge reason why the total has gone over in 15 of their 21 games this season. The total has also gone over in seven of the last nine games against Big 10 opponents. 

The Hawkeyes enter this matchup as one of the top scoring teams in the country. On the season they are averaging 82.8 PPG (6th), 16.2 APG (26th), 45.4 FG%, 33.6 3PT%, and 37 RPG (136th). A huge factor in Iowa’s offensive success has been sophomore forward Keegan Murray. Murray is averaging 22 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, and shooting 55% from the field. During the first matchup against Minnesota, Murray had 25 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals, and shot 66% from the field. Expect him to have another big game on Sunday. 

If Iowa can find a way to clean things up on the defensive end, this will be a very dangerous team come conference tournament time. They will need to bring it Sunday as Minnesota has the sixth and tenth best scorers in the Big 10 (Jamison Battle and Payton Willis). Coming into this game Iowa is allowing 71 PPG (227th), 43.4% from the field (207th), 32.4% from three (132nd), while averaging 8 SPG (59th), and 4.6 BPG (54th). 

Iowa has gone OVER the point total in 15 of its last 21 games. (AP)

INSIDE THE STATS - MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

  • Record: 11-8
  • VI Ranking: 45
  • PS/G: 68.9 (243rd)
  • PA/G: 67.8 (146th)
  • ORtg: 103.7 (153rd)
  • DRtg: 102.1 (258th)

INSIDE THE STATS - IOWA HAWKEYES

  • Record: 14-7
  • VI Ranking: 43
  • PS/G: 82.8 (6th)
  • PA/G: 71 (233rd)
  • ORtg: 115.4 (7th)
  • DRtg: 99 (182nd)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • MINN: Jamison Battle - F (17.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
  • MINN: Payton Willis - G (16.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
  • IOWA: Keegan Murray - F (22.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg)
  • IOWA: Patrick McCaffery - F (11.1 ppg)

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS VS. IOWA HAWKEYES BETTING CONCLUSION

The Golden Gophers have struggled against Big 10 opponents and this one should be no different. Iowa has also had some additional rest with their most recent game being postponed, which I think will benefit in their favor. Head Coach McCaffrey being out for Iowa could play a factor, but I do not think it will be enough for Minnesota to overcome the Hawkeyes. I like Iowa to win plus cover on Sunday. 

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS VS. IOWA HAWKEYES BETTING TRENDS

  • Iowa has gone OVER the point total in 15 of its last 21 games.
  • Minnesota has covered the spread in four of its last six road games
  • Iowa has failed to cover the spread in two straight games.