Davidson Wildcats vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Line, March Madness Analysis, Pick

Davidson enters this NCAA tournament riding a 10-1 straight-up and 9-2 against-the-spread run, while Iowa comes in on a 6-1 SU and 5-1-1 ATS run.

Two teams playing some cash-worthy ball as of late meet when the Wildcats and the Hawkeyes play the South Region's No. 7 vs. No. 10 game Friday afternoon in Seattle.

Opening Spread

The Hawkeyes opened as one-point favorites. (Compare lines and consensus on the Odds Shark matchup report.)

Why Pick Davidson to Cover the Spread

The Wildcats were expected to struggle in their first season in the Atlantic 10, and some even picked Davidson to finish in last place. Instead, the Wildcats won the regular-season title, going 14-4 in a conference that sent three teams to this NCAA tournament and could have sent one or two more. So much for the learning curve.

Davidson lost in the conference tournament but earned an at-large bid, making the Big Dance for the third time in the last four seasons. The Wildcats are 2-4 SU but 4-2 ATS this season against teams that made the NCAA tournament, including a cover at Virginia back in December, a game they led at the half.

Davidson is averaging 80 points per game this season, shooting 40 percent from three-point range, and any team that can throw it in the hole like that is a threat to cover almost any spread.

Why Pick Iowa to Cover the Spread

The Hawkeyes looked like they might miss the NCAA tournament just a few weeks ago, but they got hot and won six in a row before getting upset in their opener of the Big Ten tournament by Penn State. Iowa finished tied for third in the Big Ten at 12-6, and that conference sent seven teams to the Big Dance.

The Hawkeyes own victories this season over Hampton (the MEAC tournament champ), North Dakota State (the Summit League champ), North Carolina, North Florida (the Atlantic Sun champ), Maryland, Indiana and two over Ohio State. Iowa doesn't scare anybody offensively, but it's holding opponents to 39 percent field-goal shooting and 62 points per game.

If the Hawkeyes can “D” it up on the perimeter against Davidson and take care of business on the boards, they should win this contest.

Smart Betting Pick

Iowa is the big-conference bully in this spot, but can it be trusted? The Hawkeyes won six in a row down the stretch, but that came against a weak streak in their Big Ten schedule. Before that Iowa lost back-to-back games to Northwestern and Minnesota.

Davidson, meanwhile, gets to play in the role of the underdog and a dangerous one at that. The smart money here resides with the Wildcats.

Power Rankings (per Odds Shark power ranks)

Davidson Wildcats: No. 13

Iowa Hawkeyes: No. 38

March Madness Betting Trends

Davidson is 10-1 SU, 9-2 ATS in its final 11 games of the season.

Davidson is 7-1 ATS in its past eight games as an underdog.

Davidson is 7-2 ATS in its past nine tournament games.

Iowa is 0-4 SU and ATS in its past four tournament games.

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