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The Ohio State Buckeyes will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday. The Buckeyes are 5.5-point favorites to win the showdown at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. We tell you the best NCAAB betting picks for the match in our Ohio State vs. Iowa preview.
- What: 2025 Big Ten Tournament
- Who: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
- Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
- When: Wednesday, March 12th, 2025
- Tip-Off: 5 pm. ET
The No.10 seed Ohio State Buckeyes have an overall record of 17-14 and are 9-11 in the Big Ten.
The Buckeyes are on a losing streak of one having suffered a 6-point defeat to Indiana over the weekend.
The No.15 seed Iowa Hawkeyes have an overall record of 16-15. In the Big Ten, their record is a disappointing 7-13. Iowa is on a one-game winning streak after a 15-point win over Nebraska on Saturday.
Payton Sandfort scored 22 points in what turned out to be a comfortable win for the Hawkeyes.
The two teams last met in late January at the Value City Arena. The Buckeyes won a one-sided match 82-65. Micah Parrish scored the most points for Ohio State with 18.
Now let’s take a look at what the bookmakers think will happen when the two sides meet again on Wednesday.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Betting
Ohio State is the higher-seeded team in the Big Ten Tournament, and the best March Madness betting sites are siding with Jake Diebler’s team to beat the Iowa Hawkeyes.
The Buckeyes are -220 to win on the money line, with Iowa at +180.
The Hawkeyes are -110 to win on the points line with a +5.5-point start. Ohio State is -110 to win by six points or more and cover the 5.5-point spread.
The total line is set at 155.5. Both over and under is -110.
You can check out more Ohio State vs. Iowa NCAAB betting lines on our college basketball betting table. Our NCAAB odds are from the best sites for college basketball betting.
| Ohio State vs. Iowa |  |  |  |
| Ohio State | -220 | -220 | -220 |
| Iowa | +180 | +180 | +180 |
| Ohio State (-5.5) | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Iowa (+5.5) | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Over 155.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Under 155.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes suffered a six-point loss in their last outing. The 66-60 defeat against the Indiana Hoosiers ended a two-match winning streak that first saw Ohio defeat USC 87-82 and then Nebraska 116-114.
The loss to the Hoosiers would have been a huge disappointment to Ohio head coach Jake Diebler.
His team held a four-point lead (29-25) at the halfway point, but they couldn’t contain Indiana’s second-period onslaught. The hosts outscored the Buckeyes by ten points to seal a 66-60 win.
The Buckeyes are +6000 to win the Big Ten Tournament. Jake Diebler’s team is +7500 to reach the Final Four and +30000 to win the National Championship.
The Duke Blue Devils are the betting favorite to win the 2025 National Championship at +325.
Iowa Hawkeyes
The Iowa Hawkeyes warmed up for the Big Ten Tournament with a 15-point win over Nebraska at the Pinnacle Bank Arena.
It was a comfortable win for the Hawkeyes. Iowa was 40-35 ahead at the halfway stage, and things only got better, as Iowa continued to have the better of the exchanges in the second period, outscoring the hosts by another ten points.
The 83-68 win ended a three-match losing skid that saw the Hawkeyes lose to Illinois (81-61), Northwestern (68-57) and MI State (91-84).
The importance of the win over the Cornhuskers won’t be lost on Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery.
He knows they can now approach the showdown with Ohio State in a more confident mood, rather than on the back of a four-match losing skid.
The Hawkeyes are an unlikely +30000 to win the Big Ten Tournament. Fran McCaffery’s team is also +25000 to reach the Final Four and +100000 to win the National Championship.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Picks
The Buckeyes triumphed over the Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Tournament in March 2024. Ohio State ran out comfortable 12-point winners in a 90-78 win on the road.
A few weeks ago, the Buckeyes again defeated the Hawkeyes. This was a home-court win by 17 points.
Regardless of the venue, it looks hard to see that trend being broken. We expect Ohio State to extend that streak to three wins over Iowa.
Do we back the Buckeyes to win on the money line at -220, or to cover a spread of -5.5 at -110?
We say the spread looks lower than it could be. If the money line had been around the -150 to -160 mark, we would have gone with that. But with the spread at -5.5 points, it looks like going for the better odds and backing Ohio to cover is the better value option.
Our match betting pick is for Ohio State to beat Iowa and cover the spread.
See below our list of the best offshore sportsbooks for US bettors in 2025 and choose the one that suits you best:
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