Iowa vs. Ohio State odds, picks and predictions
The Hawkeyes racked up an 83-68 win at the Nebraska Cornhuskers Sunday in the regular-season finale as a 7.5-point underdog as the Under (156.5) cashed. That halted a 3-game skid, and an ugly 1-12-1 ATS skid since Jan. 14. The Under is 3-1 in the past 4 games for Iowa.
The Buckeyes lost 66-60 at the Indiana Hoosiers in the regular-season finale Saturday as a 2.5-point underdog. It was Ohio State's fourth loss in the last 6 games. The Buckeyes are 1-5 ATS in the past 6 outings, too, while the Under has a 3-2 edge in the previous 5 games.
These teams met in Columbus on Jan. 27, with Ohio State winning 82-65 as a 7-point favorite as the Under (156.5) connected. Hawkeyes G Drew Thelwell did his part, hitting 8-of-10 from the field, and 3-of-4 from behind the arc, to score a team-best 20 points. G Micah Parrish paced the Buckeyes with 18 points.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll
Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Iowa vs. Ohio State odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:27 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML) : Iowa +168 (bet $100 to win $168) | Ohio State -205 (bet $205 to win $100)
: Iowa +168 (bet $100 to win $168) | Ohio State -205 (bet $205 to win $100) Against the spread : Iowa +5.5 (-120) | Ohio State -5.5 (-102)
: Iowa +5.5 (-120) | Ohio State -5.5 (-102) Over/Under (O/U): 155.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Iowa vs. Ohio State picks and predictions
Prediction
Ohio State 75, Iowa 68
Ohio State (-205) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return, and that's way too much risk for a team just 3 games above .500.
If you were to bet this as part of a multi-leg parlay, including the Buckeyes could be excused, but you can't play them straight up.
PASS.
OHIO STATE -5.5 (-102) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
Both of these teams are playing on Day 1 at the Big Ten Tournament for a reason, and that's because both are rather erratic. Iowa +5.5 (-120) is just 2-12-1 ATS in the past 15 games, though, and it cannot be trusted.
UNDER 155.5 (-105) is easily the best play on the board in this Big Ten tussle.
Iowa had been giving up a lot of points earlier in the season, but it has slowed the pace a bit on offense, and it has limited the opposition somewhat across the past couple of weeks. The Under is 3-1 in the past 4 games for the Hawkeyes.
For the Buckeyes, the Under has a slight 3-2 edge in the previous 5 outings, and the total did go low in the only regular-season meeting with Iowa.
Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now!
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
West Ham forward Lucas Paqueta cleared of spot-fixing charges
West Ham forward Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of alleged spot-fixing after being accused of deliberately receiving yellow cards to influence betting markets. The English Football Association confirmed Thursday that an independent panel had found the charges unproven. 'Lucas Paqueta denied the charges against him, and the Regulatory Commission found them to be not proven following a hearing,' the FA said in a statement. The ruling brings to an end a long-running case against the Brazil international, who was charged in May 2024. The FA had claimed the 27-year-old Paqueta intentionally sought to be booked in four separate games — against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth between November 2022 and August 2023 'in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.' Blackstone Chambers, representing Paqueta, said it was understood to be the longest case in FA history. Paqueta was charged with breaches of FA Rule E5 related to integrity of matches and competitions. The rule sates a participant 'shall not, directly or indirectly, seek to influence for an improper purpose the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of, or occurrence in or in connection with, a football match or competition.' The panel did uphold two charges against Paqueta for failing to answer questions and provide information to the FA's investigation. The governing body said it would determine an appropriate sanction at the earliest opportunity. Full reasons for the verdict have not yet been published. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
2025 NFL preseason: Why there is value betting on NFL preseason games
It's been almost six months since we watched Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, but now that NFL preseason is back, a familiar question surfaces: Is it actually worth betting on? For many public bettors, preseason betting feels like throwing darts. Starters barely play, motivation is inconsistent and the games don't count. You'll hear from various outlets that only degenerates wager on the NFL preseason. But here's the truth: The preseason may be the best time to bet the NFL all season … if you know where to look. Why? Because sportsbooks can't fully price in variables like insider info, coaching intent and quarterback rotations. Most people are guessing, but the sharp bettors are not. Here are a few tips to approach the preseason with a better perspective, should you choose to dive in: Information is king In the regular season, information is tightly controlled and oddsmakers react quickly to every bit of news. In preseason? The information gaps are massive. Coaches openly discuss playing time. Beat writers speculate on rotations. Players hint at usage on social media. If you know the starters are getting three full drives while the opponent is resting everyone, that's actionable — and often exploitable — intel. And unlike in the regular season, this info often slips through the cracks of the betting market. It's likely sharp bettors see valuable information before bookmakers. Oddsmakers try to keep track of it all, but there is less at stake in the preseason with lower limits if something is missed before a bettor gets a good number. Coaching matters, but not how you think Every August, John Harbaugh's 76% preseason win rate makes the rounds, and every year, bettors hammer Baltimore. But the sportsbooks are well aware of that trend. The real value lies in why coaches do what they do. Some want clean games and no injuries. Others want to test depth charts, settle QB battles or prove something. Mike Tomlin, for example, often plays starters longer than expected to 'set a tone.' Meanwhile, Sean McVay doesn't play starters at all. Understanding coaching motivation, not just track records, gives you a sneak peak into potential value spots as lines open. Quarterback rotations: The hidden key Preseason lines can look weird. Seeing the Chiefs as 4-point underdogs to a bottom-feeder team might make you want to grab Kansas City, but this is not the Patrick Mahomes-led team, and the betting market is pricing in information you likely missed. QB depth matters more in August than it does in January. A team with two fringe roster guys fighting for a spot can be far more dangerous than a team who has its depth chart solidified and is simply getting the rust off. Finding small edges within the landscape of QB battles can lead to value in preseason betting. Last year, for example, the Cowboys leaned heavily on Trey Lance. Not because they wanted to win games, but to evaluate him and drum up trade interest. This could have opened value in games where Lance would be facing teams working through multiple low-level players fighting for roster spots — or could've led to a fade of Lance, depending on your belief in his ability. Here's how he performed: vs. Rams (Lost 13-12): 25-41, 188 Yards | 6 Carries, 44 Yards vs. Raiders (Won 27-12): 15-23, 151 Yards, 1 TD | 7 Carries, 34 Yards, 1 TD vs. Chargers (Lost 26-19): 33-49, 323 Yards, 1 TD, 5 Interceptions | 11 Carries, 90 Yards, 1 TD That's 113 pass attempts in three games. The takeaway: It wasn't about winning; it was about evaluation. Though the Cowboys ended the preseason with a 1-2 record, betting markets reacted to Lance's status as the Cowboys saw an influx of wagers, closing as bigger favorites than they opened in two of the three matchups. Low totals, high leverage: Teasers in preseason A teaser in sports betting is a type of parlay where you can adjust the point spread or total in your favor (usually at least six points) in multiple wagers, but both wagers must win for you to cash. They offer fixed pay structures, which typically aren't worth a bet — but the preseason is not typical. In the regular season, teasing a 7-point favorite down to -1 or lowering a total from 47 to 41 is commonplace. But in the preseason, teasers become more valuable. Why? Because points are scarce. When totals are sitting in the low 30s, like the 32.5 total in this year's Hall of Fame Game, each point is worth more. A 6-point teaser that moves an underdog from +1 to +7 is much more impactful when a game is expected to be a 13-10 type of matchup. The less room for variance, the better. If you're playing teasers, aim for low-total games and look to grab key numbers, especially in matchups where scoring is expected to be ugly — which, in preseason, is most of them. Bet the info, not the teams Betting NFL preseason isn't about which team will be better this season. It's about who's playing, for how long and why it matters. If you're looking for soft numbers and mis-priced info, this is your window. So yes, preseason betting is 100% worth it. Just don't treat it like September football. Treat it like an info war, and make sure you're the one winning it.
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
2025 NFL betting: Three Week 1 bets to make right now
Week 1 of the NFL season is fast approaching — the odds are out, the market is moving and there are a few actionable angles worth betting right away. In the past, I would have been hesitant to place bets on the Week 1 market before the preseason began, but I feel very differently now. In recent years, the NFL has reduced the preseason by one game, and teams have responded by largely sitting key players to avoid unnecessary injury risk. This creates a unique edge: betting Week 1 early is now even more advantageous, as we can target teams with asymmetric approaches to the preseason and aim to beat the closing lines. We're also in a quiet period on the sports calendar, so tying up a portion of your bankroll now is totally reasonable. With that in mind, here are three NFL Week 1 bets I recommend placing immediately (odds from BetMGM). Cincinnati Bengals (-5.5, 44.5) at Cleveland Browns This bet targets asymmetric injury risk. Joe Burrow is entering his fifth year in the NFL. Guess how many career preseason completions he has? Just two. Due to the Bengals slow starts the last few seasons, Burrow has said he wants to play more this preseason to feel some of the game speed. However, his risk of injury remains incredibly low. He rarely scrambles outside the pocket, doesn't take big hits in practice and is unlikely to see meaningful preseason pressure. I expect Burrow to play about five drives throughout the first two preseason weeks and be seated for the final game. On the other side, Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot has stated the starting quarterback likely won't be named until before the team's third and final preseason game. The competition will continue throughout camp between veteran Joe Flacco, journeyman Kenny Pickett, and two rookies the Browns just drafted: Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. The Bengals also likely have an internal emphasis on starting the season strong. Last year, they dropped Week 1 to the lowly New England Patriots, and their 1-4 start played a major role in missing the playoffs. The Bengals have not won their Week 1 game since 2021. I expect the Bengals to be one of the most popular picks in NFL Survivor Contests this season, and I think the moneyline gets home here. They're currently consensus favorites at -5.5, and I'm also comfortable laying the points. I wouldn't be surprised to see this line close at -6 or higher, making -5.5 a very strong early position. Note: If Trey Hendrickson re-signs soon, that could move the number up another half-point to that key number of 6. We'll update this analysis as more news emerges. Bets: Bengals -5.5, Bengals ML -250 Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots (-3, 42.5) This handicap is primarily a market read, with an understanding of key numbers and common NFL outcomes, and a touch of football insight as well. The total for this Week 1 game opened at 43.5 and is currently being bet down to a consensus 42. Some sharp offshore books are even showing 41.5. Grabbing an Under 42.5 at -110 now is likely to close ahead of the market and should be a positive expected value wager by kickoff. For context, 41 is the third most common total outcome in the NFL over the past three seasons, so there's significant value in locking in a number above that if the line continues to drop. From a football perspective, this will be the first game for both teams under new head coaches. Based on their prior tendencies, we know Pete Carroll favors a run-heavy offense, while Mike Vrabel brings a physical, defensive-minded approach paired with a second-year quarterback in Drake Maye. All signs point to a lower-scoring, grind-it-out type of game. Bet: Under 42.5 Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears (-1.5, 43.5) The first Monday Night Football game of the season features a divisional showdown as the Vikings travel to the Windy City to take on the Bears. Minnesota has been a darling of the futures market, with action coming in across the board — from win totals to division bets to Super Bowl odds. One of the best ways to still find value on the Vikings might simply be playing the Week 1 market. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy had a year to develop behind Sam Darnold, who performed at an MVP-caliber level. Add in an elite offensive mind in former quarterback and reigning NFL Coach of the Year Kevin O'Connell, and a defense that could shape up to be one of the league's best this season, and the pieces are in place. There's also more continuity on Minnesota's sideline, including experience game-planning against Bears head coach Ben Johnson from his time in Detroit. I also like the under in this matchup. Prime-time unders have been a strong early-season trend, and grabbing a good number here is critical. Over the last six seasons, prime-time games (Thursday, Sunday, and Monday Night Football) have hit the under at a 60% rate, according to OddsShark data. And that's based on closing lines, not openers. Snagging an under at 44.5 (still available at some books) is key due to how common final scores land on 44, 43, 41 and 40. There's asymmetric value here, as totals of 45 or 46 are less frequent outcomes. Bets: Vikings ML +100, Under 44.5
