Iowa Hawkeyes vs Utah Utes Prediction, 3/24/2024 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Iowa Hawkeyes vs Utah Utes

Date: Sunday, March 24, 2024

Location: Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, UT

TV: ESPN2

Odds/Point Spread: Iowa (+5)

The Iowa Hawkeyes (19-14) are headed to Jon M. Huntsman Center on Sunday where they will try to defeat the Utah Utes (20-14) in the NIT. Iowa opens as 5-point dogs. The total is set at 165.

The Iowa Hawkeyes stepped onto the hardwood against Kansas State and took home the win by a score of 91-82 in their last game. Iowa wrapped up the contest having earned a 48.3% field goal percentage (29 out of 60) and buried 11 out of their 23 3-pointers. When they shot from the charity stripe, the Hawkeyes made 22 of 30 attempts for a rate of 73.3%. In reference to getting rebounds, they collected 39 with 12 of them being on the offensive end. They also dished out 20 assists for this contest as well as forcing the other team into 13 turnovers and earning 8 steals. When talking about defense, Iowa allowed 47.8% from the floor on 33 out of 69 shooting. Kansas State recorded 16 assists and had 8 steals for this game. On top of that, Kansas State grabbed 37 boards (11 offensive, 26 defensive), but didn't notch a block. Kansas State walked away from this one shooting 50.0% at the charity stripe by burying 8 of 16 tries. They also made 8 of 30 tries from distance. In reference to personal fouls, the Hawkeyes walked away with 17 and Kansas State finished the game with 20 personal fouls.

Payton Sandfort is a guy who was a contributor in this matchup. He totaled 30 points on 9 out of 14 shooting. He played for 37 mins played and totaled 12 rebounds. He went 64.3% from the field but finished the game without an assist.

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Iowa heads into this contest with a record of 19-14 for the season. They average 83.2 pts per game (14th in college hoops) while going 47.6% from the floor. The Hawkeyes are hitting 35.2% on shots from beyond the arc (219 of 623) and 77.7% from the charity stripe. As a team, Iowa is collecting 35.6 boards per game and has tallied 589 assists for the season, which has them ranked 11th in the nation in terms of passing the ball. They are turning it over 9.7 times per contest and as a group they commit 16.9 personal fouls on a nightly basis.

When they are on defense, the Hawkeyes are able to force 12.1 turnovers per game while drawing 17.5 personal fouls. They are relinquishing 35.7% on 3-point attempts while they are 337th in the country in points per game allowed (79.1). The Hawkeyes defense is allowing a shooting percentage of 45.8% (939 of 2,049) and they relinquish 36.9 boards per game as a basketball team. They are ranked 348th in college basketball in allowing assists to their opponents with 501 surrendered on the campaign.

When they last played, the Utah Utes went home victorious with a score of 84-75 when they faced UC Irvine. The Utes corralled 31 defensive boards and 5 offensive boards totaling 36 in the matchup. They turned it over 10 times, while getting 2 steals for the contest. UC Irvine was called for 18 personal fouls for the matchup which got the Utes to the free throw line for 16 attempts. They were able to make 11 of the free throw tries for a rate of 68.8%. With respect to 3-point shots, Utah converted 9 out of their 18 tries (50.0%). When the final whistle blew, the Utes ended up shooting 32 out of 58 from the floor which had them at 55.2%. The Utes permitted UC Irvine to make 30 of their 73 attempts from the floor which left them shooting 41.1% for the game. They shot 33.3% from distance by connecting on 6 out of 18 and walked away from this one shooting 9 out of 14 at the free throw line (64.3%). Regarding rebounding, Utah permitted UC Irvine to grab 39 in total (14 on the offensive side).

Branden Carlson was important for the Utes for this contest. He made 8 out of 9 for the contest giving him a rate of 88.9%, and had 11 rebounds. He racked up 21 points in his 35 mins on the court, but went home with no dimes.

Utah has a mark of 20-14 so far this year. As an offense, the Utes are shooting 46.8% from the field, which has them ranked 61st in college hoops. Utah has earned 2,660 points this season (78.2 per contest) and they pull in 38.9 boards per game. They are dishing out assists 17.4 times per contest (16th in the nation) and they turn the ball over 11.6 times per contest. The Utes are committing 16.1 fouls per contest and they go 65.0% from the charity stripe.

The Utes defensively are ranked 210th in D-1 in PPG given up with 72.7. They are forcing 10.2 turnovers on a nightly basis and have let teams shoot 42.3% from the field (97th in college hoops). The Utah defense allows 34.0% on 3-pointers (263 of 774) and their opposition knocks down 68.4% of their foul shots. They have allowed 13.7 assists and 36.4 rebounds per game, which is ranked 261st and 274th in those categories on the defensive end.

Who will win tonight's NCAA basketball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Utah (-5)

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