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Charlie Grant
Iowa vs. Cincinnati Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
The Bearcats are back in the NCAA Tournament a year after getting bounced in the second round of the Big Dance as a No. 2 seed. Cincinnati is a lower-seed this time and a small favourite against an Iowa side with a habit of surprising non-conference opponents.
Iowa (10) vs. Cincinnati (7) NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
The Iowa Hawkeyes enter as one of the coldest spread teams in the Tournament. Iowa is just 1-9 against the spread (ATS) in its last 10 games and it closed the regular season on a four-game losing streak. The Hawkeyes topped Illinois in the Big Ten tourney but were slaughtered by Michigan in the following round.
Iowa backers are happy to see their team playing against a non-conference opponent. The Hawkeyes are 16-0 in their last 16 contests against teams outside the Big Ten and they are 11-0 this season against non-conference foes.
Those are all straight up records. The ATS numbers aren’t nearly as impressive. Iowa are just 5-6 against the number versus out-of-conference teams this season.
Cincinnati is coming off one of its best wins of the season. The Bearcats took down Houston in the AAC conference tournament final for a second straight season it was the Cougars who were awarded the higher seed (No. 3) but the selection committee.
The Bearcats are still just 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games and 3-7 ATS in their last 10 NCAA Tournament matchups.
Iowa Hawkeyes
Coach Fran McCaffery’s side is one of the better balanced offensive attacks in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes led their conference in scoring (75.1 ppg during Big Ten schedule) and finished 15th in offensive efficiency (117.2 points per 100 possessions).
Junior forward Tyler Cook leads Iowa in scoring (14.9 points per game) and rebounding (7.9 rpg), but he’s not the only contributor. The Hawkeyes boast four players averaging double digits in points.
Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati is making its ninth straight Tournament and this appearance might be the most special. The Bearcats lost three of their four top scorers from last year’s team – including their top two point-producers. The team also had to put behind that painful loss to Nevada in the Round of 32 last year.
This team now belongs to Jarron Cumberland. The do-everything junior leads UC in scoring, assists and steals per game and he is third on the team in rebounding. Cumberland scored 33 points and added eight rebounds in the AAC championship game against Houston.
