Iowa vs Minnesota Odds, Picks and Predictions: Hawkeyes Cruise on Super Bowl Sunday

On a day when all the sporting world’s eyes are elsewhere, the Minnesota Golden Gophers are likely grateful to slip in a game without notice.

A disastrous season and a woeful conference slate should continue in “The Barn” when the Gophers host the Iowa Hawkeyes today. Iowa may be only in the middle of the Big Ten conference standings, but that means it is far and away better than Minnesota.

Here are my free college basketball betting picks for Iowa vs. Minnesota on February 12, with tip set for 1:00 p.m. ET.

Iowa vs Minnesota best odds

Iowa vs Minnesota picks and predictions

Not even Minnesota’s fans are coming out for the Gophers anymore. Today should exacerbate that trend. Minnesota’s announced attendance numbers — obviously inflated figures to start with — have fallen by nearly 2,000 fans since the home conference opener against Nebraska in early January, a game that came when most students were not yet knocking around campus, 10 days before the spring semester ended.

So if that was the peak, this early afternoon game on Super Bowl Sunday may become the attendance valley. The best arrow in the Gophers’ quiver rendered dull, with little-to-no home-court advantage.

Of course, Minnesota has hardly had one in the first place, going 0-5 straight-up at home in conference play this season. On the bright side, it is 2-3 ATS in those games, though that is a dark bright side, given the three ATS home losses have come by an average of 14.7 points worse than the spread.

Last week, Minnesota lost by 35 at home to Maryland; the Terps are a quality team, but they are also only 7-6 in Big Ten play, not someone you can justify losing to by 35 when only a 9-point underdog.

The Gophers are coming off a postponed game due to COVID issues within the program. At best, one assumes the week of practice was disjointed.

A struggling team with no home-court advantage today and questionable practice work this week? No wonder Minnesota is an 11.5-point underdog today. That may not be enough.

Again, if this game begins to tilt, there will be little reason to think the Gophers will halt the pain. They may be without leading scorer and rebounder Dawson Garcia for the fourth straight game, a stretch that obviously included that faceplant against Maryland.

Iowa knows better than to overlook an opponent, having done that in December to lose to Eastern Illinois, despite the Hawkeyes being favored by 31 points. Since then, they have gone 7-5 ATS, all in Big Ten play.

Those seven wins against the spread have come with a comfort level; Iowa covered by an average of 6.6 points. When the Hawkeyes get an edge, they tend to carry it to the finish line.

The possible absence of Garcia, in front of an empty Barn, will emphasize that edge. Winning by 11.5 seems assured; winning by more than that pays out at value.

My best bet: Iowa -14.5 (+140 at FanDuel)

Iowa vs Minnesota spread analysis

The spread has not moved in a manner that indicates how strong Garcia will be coming off a bone bruise to his ankle if he does take the floor.

Iowa opened as an 11-point favorite late Saturday, and while some books raised that all the way to -12.5, most kept it toggling between -11 and -12 overnight, settling at -11.5 early Sunday morning.

If Garcia does not give it a go, that number will likely jump a couple of points.

Iowa vs Minnesota Over/Under analysis

The total has moved even less, opening at 147.5 and settling at 147.0 at most books.

Iowa’s last four games have all gone Over the pregame totals, while two of Minnesota’s last three have, as well.

Iowa vs Minnesota betting trend to know

Minnesota is 1-5 ATS in its last six games against a team with a winning percentage north of .600, all coming in conference play since mid-January. Find more college basketball betting trends for Iowa vs. Minnesota.

Iowa vs Minnesota game info

Iowa vs Minnesota key injuries

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