Connecticut vs. Iowa Betting Lines
The best game in the 2nd round of the South Region should be this matchup between the #8 Iowa State Cyclones vs. #9 Connecticut Huskies.
This UCONN vs. Iowa matchup will take place in Louisville on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 9:20pm ET. Both of these teams have high expectations coming into the 2012 March Madness tournament, and the Huskies are looking to defend their 2011 National Championship.
UCONN vs. Iowa State Betting Lines
Everyone is going to want a piece of the action on this game. If you want to bet the point spread, money line or over/under, we recommend BetOnline.com for US bettors. They post early March Madness lines, and accept Visa/Mastercard deposits. If you prefer live betting or props, we recommend Bovada.lv.
• Point Spread: ISU +1.5 (-110) vs. UCONN -1.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: ISU +105 vs. UCONN -125
• Total: Over 136 (-110) / Under 136 (-110)
The UCONN vs. Iowa State odds listed above are based on the time this article is being posted (Thursday morning at 3:30am ET). Please visit our homepage for all of the latest sports betting lines, including all March Madness games.
Connecticut vs. Iowa State Prediction
The Iowa State Cyclones (22-10) and Connecticut Huskies (20-13) will play in one of the late games this Thursday in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament. UCONN won the National Championship last season as a #3 seed, and 10 players on that team returned to the Huskies this season.
The Huskies started the season on fire with their out of conference schedule. However, they hit a stretch where they went just 3 of 12, and many people thought the champs wouldn’t even make the tournament. UCONN finished the year with an SOS rank of 2 and they can hang with the big boys in this tournament.
UCONN doesn’t shoot the ball that well from beyond the arc, but Jeremy Lamb (17.7 PPG) and Shabazz Napier (12.7 PPG) can get points from most spots on the floor. UCONN has a strong defensive unit, but will have their hands full against the Cyclones who have averaged 73.2 PPG (53rd overall), 36.7 RPG (62nd overall) and 14.6 APG (49th overall).
Personally, I can’t wait to watch this game. Iowa State has big wins over Kansas and Baylor this season, while the Huskies have played the 2nd toughest schedule in the country. UCONN had a big win early in the year over FSU, but they haven’t been able to win any of their other games against top 25 teams.
The reigning champs would be embarrassed by a 2nd round loss. I expect them to work out the nerves by the second half, and take this game by 3-4 points. So, I’m taking Connecticut -1.5 (-110) on the point spread at BetOnline.com. If you prefer, you can get +1.5 (-110) on Iowa St., or bet the money line of course. Currently UCONN is -130 on the moneyline, and Iowa State is +110.
At the time this is being written, the Connecticut vs. Iowa over/under is 136.5 on each side. In terms of betting, I think there’s some value on the under (136.5 at BetOnline). The Huskies average 68.8 PPG, but they’re going to need to play strong defense to keep this game close. I also think both teams are going to start slow, as they could be nervous with the pressure on each program.
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