Here we go with our NCAA Tournament picks for the First Round. We have a classic No. 8 vs. No. 9 matchup as Iowa is set to face Auburn on Thursday, Mar. 15. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:50 pm ET while airing on TNT. Auburn enters this game as 1.5-point favorites with the total set at 152.5. How will this one play out? Let’s dive into the Iowa vs. Auburn predictions below.
Iowa vs. Auburn Odds
- Spread: Auburn -1.5
- Total: 152.5
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook. New to DK? Check out our DraftKings Sportsbook Review to find out how to bet $5 to get $200 in bonus bets!
Game Info
- Date: Thursday, Mar. 16
- Time: 6:50 pm ET
- Location: Legacy Arena at BJCC, Birmingham, AL
- TV: TNT
- Stream: March Madness Live
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Iowa Betting Trends
- Hawkeyes are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
- Hawkeyes are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
- Under is 6-0 in Hawkeyes last 6 neutral site games.
Auburn Betting Trends
- Tigers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
- Over is 4-1 in Tigers last 5 overall.
- Over is 5-2 in Tigers last 7 NCAA Tournament games.
Iowa vs. Auburn Predictions
Who did Auburn pay off on the committee to be rewarded as a 9-seed? Auburn is guaranteed to be the lower seed in both of their first games, but they’re essentially getting a home game in both contests. Technically, these games will be listed as neutral-site, but they will be played roughly 2 hours from Auburn University.
The key to this game is going to be free throws. Auburn boasts a high-end defense, but they struggle with fouls. That likely won’t be a massive issue in this game, though, as the physical play between the SEC and Big Ten is drastically different.
For example, Auburn ranked 11th in the SEC with a 32.8% FTA/FGA rate, while Iowa ranked 5th in the Big Ten with a 29.3% FTA/FGA. If Iowa can’t get to the line in this game, they’re going to struggle to score points.
I believe the physicality, along with Auburn’s ability to score inside the arc, will give them a major edge in this game. I also think this line should be roughly even on a neutral court, giving a bigger edge to Auburn in Birmingham.
The Pick: Auburn -1 | -110 at DraftKings Sportsbook
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