Day 2 of the NCAA Tournament’s first round tips off Friday, and if Thursday was any indication, there will be some thrillers to look forward to throughout the day.
The committee knows how to pick its matchups, and Iowa vs. Clemson is set up to be the defensive battle with two of the country’s stingiest units going head-to-head.
The total for this game is the lowest of the day at 129.5, with the Hawkeyes listed as 2.5-point favorites.
Iowa vs. Clemson prediction, best bet
The Hawkeyes and Tigers match up with each other in interesting ways.
Iowa averages the second-fewest possessions per game in the nation, and Clemson isn’t far behind, ranking 329th out of 365 teams.
Iowa’s defense likes to gamble, and when the Hawkeyes are right, they force 13.3 turnovers per game, but when they get overzealous, they put teams on the free-throw line at a staggering clip.
The Hawkeyes rank 327th in the country in personal fouls per possession, which can slow momentum for some opponents but can give more opportunities to offenses that struggle to score.
Clemson’s offense is hardly explosive — only two of its players average double figures, and it lacks 3-point shooting in its rotations — but the Tigers can score inside and hit free throws well enough to stay in games.
Their defense will be geared up to stop Bennett Stirtz, who leads Iowa in scoring (20 ppg), assists (4.5 apg), and steals (1.5 spg).
He is the offensive engine, but the Hawkeyes have efficient shooters in Cooper Koch and Tavion Banks who can serve as an outlet when the defense pressures Stirtz.
Betting on College Basketball?
Iowa might have the profile of a defensive team, but the trends point to value on the Over.
The Over was 19-14 in Iowa’s games this season and 15-8 when the Hawkeyes are the favorite.
This total is also the lowest of any game they’ve played all season. I’ll bet on them to go over the projected total on Friday.
The Pick: Over 129.5 (-105, BetMGM)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.
