Grand Canyon vs. Iowa Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
The Iowa Hawkeyes have as many Elite Eight appearances, as the Grand Canyon Antelopes have Division-1 seasons played. Grand Canyon has been a D-1 team for less than 10 years and in their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, they’ve secured a first round matchup with an Iowa team that has won their last three opening round games.
Grand Canyon Antelopes vs. Iowa Hawkeyes NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
Unsurprisingly, this will be one of the biggest spreads in the first round, as Iowa is a 14.5-point favourite over Grand Canyon. The total for this game is up to 145 and while a whopping 86 per cent of early bets are taking the Over, keep in mind, both of these teams played to the Under down the stretch. The Under is 9-2 in Iowa’s last 11 games and 8-3 in Grand Canyon’s last 11. Grand Canyon has paid nicely against the spread this year. The Antelopes are 15-5 ATS and have covered in four of their last five games. The same can’t be said of Iowa, who are 15-13-1 ATS overall and 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
(15) Grand Canyon Antelopes
First-year head coach Bryce Drew has taken Grand Canyon to the Tournament for the first time in the eight seasons this team has been in D-1. The Antelopes finished with the best regular season record in the WAC, 17-6, and won four of their last five games straight up and against the spread. Grand Canyon continued their winning ways in the WAC Tournament, blowing out the New Mexico State Aggies 74-56 in the title game as 1.5-point underdogs. Asbjorn Midtgaard and Jovan Blacksher Jr. have been the biggest contributors to this team. Midtgaard is averaging a team-high 14 points per game, 9.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. He also has one of the best field goal percentages in the NCAA at 70.6 per cent. Blacksher Jr. is averaging 11.9 points per game and leads the team in assists (5.6) and steals (1.3).
(2) Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa comes into this game having played a much tougher schedule, with games against teams like Gonzaga and Illinois. This team almost exclusively focuses on offence and against a weaker team like Grand Canyon, they are likely looking for a blowout. They had won four straight games, and eight of nine, before bowing out to Illinois in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament. The Hawkeyes play a fast-paced style and are one of the most exciting D-1 teams to watch. They’re top-10 in the country in average points per game with 83.8 and allow 71.9. Luka Garza has been the most important player on this team all season. Garza averages team-highs in points per game (23.7), rebounds (8.8) and blocks (1.7). He is also the third-leading scorer in D-1, averaging about half a point less than Oral Roberts’ Max Abmas. Although a lot of self-proclaimed experts aren’t expecting Iowa to go far in this year’s tournament, a loss to Grand Canyon would be a huge upset. The Hawkeyes are just simply a better and more talented team all over.
GRC
IOWA