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#8 Iowa vs. #9 Auburn Predictions, Picks & Odds for Thursday, 3/16

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Payton Sandfort

The 2023 NCAA Tournament is finally here with March Madness college basketball games tipping off across the country this week. On Thursday, we have a first-round matchup between #8 Iowa and #9 Auburn in the Midwest region. While #1 vs. #16 seeds and other clear mismatches may not be the most exciting to analyze, this matchup looks to be one of the closest ones of the opening weekend.

Check out our expert’s Iowa vs. Auburn predictions below for Thursday’s game with odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.

IOWA VS. AUBURN PREDICTION: Auburn -1 (-110 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

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Auburn Tigers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes basketball predictions for Thursday's NCAA Basketball game

Both teams come limping into the NCAA Tournament and easily could’ve been higher seeds if the season ended a few weeks ago. Auburn is just 3-7 in its last 10 games, while Iowa is 4-5 in their last nine contests. The Tigers and Hawkeyes both went one-and-done in their respective conference tournaments – so neither has much momentum coming into this matchup.

The big difference-maker in this game could come down to Iowa’s defensive struggles and inconsistency. According to KenPom.com metrics, the Hawkeyes rank 167th in the country in defensive efficiency this season and 13th in the Big Ten. They’ve primarily won games with a high-scoring and up-tempo offense while forcing teams to keep pace on the scoreboard. However, the defensive issues have been exploited all season.

With that in mind, let’s dive into why our experts’ best bet from their Iowa vs. Auburn predictions is on the Tigers to cover the one-point spread.

Picks and best bets for Auburn vs. Iowa featuring [pick]

Auburn can tend to be inconsistent offensively, but they do have the playmakers and talent to exploit Iowa’s defensive issues. The Tigers boast a talented big man in Johni Broome, who will have a notable talent advantage against any of Iowa’s forwards. Plus, point guard Wendell Green Jr. has the fast-paced instinct and playmaking ability to keep Auburn’s offense rolling and matching Iowa bucket-for-bucket.

On the other side, the Tigers rank 29th in defensive efficiency in college basketball. They can bottle up and slow down the dangerous Iowa offense on enough possessions to make a difference. In particular, Auburn’s fifth-best three-point defense in the country (28.8% allowed) will limit the Hawkeyes – who can be a bit too reliant on the deep ball at times.

Another factor to consider in this matchup between Auburn and Iowa is each team’s recent history in the NCAA Tournament. Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl has had success in March Madness in previous seasons. He memorably led his team to a Final Four in 2019 and has won in the first round in all three NCAA Tournament appearances at Auburn.

Meanwhile, Iowa’s recent history isn’t as kind. The Hawkeyes got upset in the first round last year as a #5 seed to Richmond, 67-63, despite being 9.5-point favorites in the game. In 2021, the #2 seed Hawkeyes defeated Grand Canyon in the first round but failed to cover as favorites in the win. In both instances, it’s been Iowa’s defense that ultimately let them down.

That weak defense is what our experts anticipate being their downfall once again this season, which makes the best bet from their Iowa vs. Auburn predictions on the Tigers -1.

How to bet on Auburn vs. Iowa with DraftKings in Iowa and get a $200 promo code

You’re welcome to fade or follow our Iowa vs. Auburn predictions but be sure to register at DraftKings Sportsbook to make your pick. All new members can grab $200 in bonus bets guaranteed, and you won’t even need to enter a DraftKings promo code.

Instead, simply deposit at least $5 and then wager $5+ on anything. No matter if that $5 bet wins or loses doesn’t matter; you’ll receive $200 in bonus bets guaranteed. So, whether you want to take advantage of our Iowa vs. Auburn predictions, or have a pick of your own, click here to secure your DraftKings ‘Bet $5, get $200’ promo today.

Odds, betting lines and spreads for Auburn vs. Iowa provided by DraftKings

Auburn is currently a slight one-point favorite with -110 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook, while Iowa +1 has the same -110 odds. That means an $11 bet on the Tigers profits $10 if they win by at least two points, while an $11 bet on the Hawkeyes profits $10 if they pull off the upset. If Auburn wins by exactly one point, wagers on both sides of the spread are graded as a push and all bets are refunded.

As for the total (over/under), it’s listed at 152.5 points with -110 odds on either side. No matter what market you prefer to bet on, you still guarantee yourself $200 in bonus bets when you create a new account at DraftKings.

If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.

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