- The Northwestern Wildcats thrive as a small favorite, going 9-1 on the over when favored by seven or fewer points at home.
- The Iowa Hawkeyes deliver as a road underdog, scoring 80+ in five of their last seven games when undervalued on the road.
EVANSTON, Ill. – The Iowa Hawkeyes and Northwestern Wildcats face off in a college basketball matchup with strong betting trends and high-scoring potential.
While Iowa has dominated the series, winning nine of the last 10 meetings, Northwestern has been a strong legal sports bet at home in certain situations. With Bovada and BetOnline offering odds on the game, bettors in Iowa and Illinois have legal ways to get in on the action.
Scoring Trends Favor the Over
The history of this matchup suggests points will be scored. In their last 13 meetings, the home team has put up 80 or more points in 10 games.
Northwestern, as a home favorite of seven points or less, has been a profitable bet, going 8-2 straight up and an impressive 9-1 on the over. In these situations, the Wildcats have scored 80+ in five of seven games, with the two exceptions narrowly missing at 77 and 79 points.
On the other side, Iowa has shown an ability to score even when legal college basketball sportsbooks put them as a road underdog. When getting seven or fewer points on the road, the Hawkeyes have hit 80+ in five of their last seven games. Given these trends, the team totals set for this game provide interesting opportunities.
Betting Odds For Team Totals
Team | Over | Under |
---|---|---|
Iowa | 72.5 (-120) | 72.5 (-110) |
Northwestern | 77.5 (-110) | 77.5 (-120) |
Bettors looking to wager on these team totals should consider Iowa’s tendency to score well when undervalued and Northwestern’s strong offensive performances at home as a favorite. With the Wildcats consistently clearing 80 in similar spots, the over on their total looks appealing.
Where to Bet in Iowa and Illinois
For bettors in Iowa and Illinois, Bovada and BetOnline are two top sportsbooks offering action on this game. These platforms not only allow wagers on the spread and totals but also feature player props and alternative lines for those looking to maximize value.
With scoring trends pointing toward another high-scoring battle, betting the over or taking advantage of team total odds could be the best way to cash in on this Big Ten showdown.
Advertising Disclosure
In order to provide you with the best independent sports betting news and content LegalSportsBetting.com may receive a commission from partners when you make a purchase through a link on our site.
News tags: Big 10 | College Basketball | Illinois | Iowa | Iowa Hawkeyes | Northwestern Wildcats

After spending time scouting college basketball for Florida State University under Leonard Hamilton and the University of Alabama under Anthony Grant, Michael started writing focused on NBA content. A graduate of both schools, he now covers legal sports betting bills, sports betting revenue data, tennis betting odds, and sportsbook reviews. Michael likes to play basketball, hike, and kayak when not glued to the TV watching midlevel tennis matches.