Iowa vs Auburn Prediction March Madness Picks Experts, 03/16

Odds

2022-2023 season stats

Preview

March Madness is upon us, and the first-round matchup between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Auburn Tigers promises to be an exciting one. The game will take place at Legacy Arena at BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 16th, 2023, and will be broadcast live on TNT. Both teams have had up-and-down seasons, but they are both talented and have the potential to make a deep run in the tournament. In this article, we will provide an extended preview of both teams, including their strengths, weaknesses, and key players, and make a final prediction.

Auburn Tigers

The Auburn Tigers have had an up-and-down season, but they have shown flashes of brilliance on the court. Head coach Bruce Pearl has been with the team since 2014 and has developed a fast-paced and high-scoring offense that can be difficult to defend. Auburn's offensive success is due in part to their ability to shoot from the field, making 45.1% of their shots, which is the 88th best in the country. This ability to score efficiently from the field and get to the basket makes them a difficult team to defend.

At the heart of Auburn's offensive attack is freshman forward Jabari Broome, who leads the team in scoring with 14.0 points per game. Broome is a versatile scorer who can dominate inside the paint and also hit from mid-range. He has been a standout player for the Tigers this season and will be a key player to watch in the tournament. Alongside Broome is sophomore guard Wendell Green Jr., who averages 12.6 points and 4.2 assists per game. Green is a dynamic playmaker who can score from anywhere on the court and has shown that he can take over games when needed.

While Auburn's offense has been impressive, their defense has been a weak spot this season. The Tigers allow 72.6 points per game, which is the 193rd worst in the country. They have struggled to defend the perimeter, allowing opponents to shoot 35.5% from beyond the arc. This weakness will need to be addressed if they hope to make a deep run in the tournament. Another issue for Auburn is their lack of depth, as they rely heavily on their starting five to produce. This can lead to fatigue and limit their ability to make adjustments during games.

Despite these weaknesses, the Tigers have shown that they can compete with some of the top teams in the country. They had impressive wins over Tennessee and Florida during the regular season, and they will be looking to carry that momentum into the tournament. Auburn's offensive firepower and ability to score efficiently make them a difficult team to defend, and if they can address their defensive weaknesses and get contributions from their bench, they have the potential to make a deep run in the tournament.

Iowa Hawkeyes

The Iowa Hawkeyes have had an up-and-down season, but their offensive firepower has kept them in most games. Head coach Fran McCaffery has been with the team since 2010 and has developed a fast-paced and high-scoring offense that can be difficult to defend. Iowa's offensive success is due in part to their ability to shoot from beyond the arc, making 38.5% of their three-point attempts, which is the 16th best in the country. This ability to spread the floor and hit from long range makes them a difficult team to defend.

At the heart of Iowa's offensive attack is senior forward Keegan Murray, who leads the team in scoring with 20.4 points per game. Murray is a versatile scorer who can hit from beyond the arc and also drive to the basket. He has been the go-to player for the Hawkeyes this season and will be a key player to watch in the tournament. Alongside Murray is junior guard Joe Toussaint, who averages 9.2 points and 4.2 assists per game. Toussaint is a crafty ball-handler who can create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. He is also a strong defender who can disrupt passing lanes and force turnovers.

While Iowa's offense has been impressive, their defense has been a weak spot this season. The Hawkeyes allow 75.3 points per game, which is the 291st worst in the country. They have struggled to defend the perimeter, allowing opponents to shoot 34.6% from beyond the arc. This weakness will need to be addressed if they hope to make a deep run in the tournament. Another issue for Iowa is their lack of size in the paint, as they do not have a dominant big man who can control the paint. This can lead to struggles against teams with strong post players and can limit their ability to defend the rim.

Despite these weaknesses, the Hawkeyes have shown that they can compete with some of the top teams in the country. They had impressive wins over Michigan State, Purdue, and Illinois during the regular season, and they will be looking to carry that momentum into the tournament. Iowa's offensive firepower and ability to hit from beyond the arc make them a difficult team to defend, and if they can address their defensive weaknesses, they have the potential to make a deep run in the tournament.

BETTING TRENDS

The total has gone OVER in 4 of Auburn's last 5 games.

Auburn are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games.

The total has gone OVER in 5 of Auburn's last 6 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.

The total has gone OVER in 14 of Auburn's last 17 games played in March.

Auburn are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games played on a Thursday.

Iowa are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games.

The total has gone OVER in 13 of Iowa's last 19 games.

Iowa are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Iowa's last 6 games against an opponent in the Southeastern conference.

Prediction

Both Iowa and Auburn are high-scoring teams that like to push the pace and shoot the ball early in the shot clock. This style of play should lead to a fast-paced and exciting game that will likely result in a high-scoring affair. Furthermore, both teams have shown weaknesses on the defensive end, particularly in defending the perimeter, which should allow for open looks from three-point range.

Looking at the over/under line set at 152, we believe that the over will cash in this game. Both teams have the offensive firepower to score over 75 points each, and the lackluster defenses on both sides should allow for easy baskets and high-scoring opportunities. Additionally, the fast-paced tempo and early shot clock possessions should result in more possessions and more opportunities to score. While there is always the potential for a defensive battle to break out, we expect the offenses to be the stars of this game, resulting in a high-scoring game that will see the over hit.

In terms of a final score prediction, we believe that Iowa will come out on top in a close game that sees both teams score over 80 points. While both teams are talented, we believe that Iowa's offensive firepower, particularly from Keegan Murray, will be too much for Auburn to handle. However, it will likely be a back-and-forth affair with both teams trading blows and hitting big shots throughout the game. Ultimately, Iowa's ability to score from beyond the arc and their more consistent offensive output will be the difference-maker in this game.

In conclusion, the first-round matchup between Iowa and Auburn promises to be an exciting and high-scoring affair. Both teams have shown weaknesses on the defensive end and like to play a fast-paced style of basketball. While Auburn has a talented roster led by Jabari Broome and Wendell Green Jr., we believe that Iowa's offensive firepower, particularly from Keegan Murray, will be too much for the Tigers to handle. Look for both teams to score over 80 points and the over to hit in what should be a thrilling game of March Madness basketball.

PICK: Over 152 (-110)

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