Richmond Spiders vs Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview

Thursday is when the fun really begins in the NCAA Tournament, as there are 16 games set to take place during the day. It will be the Richmond Spiders taking on the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Midwest Region on Thursday afternoon.

Richmond advanced to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, and that will give them some momentum in this matchup. The Spiders are just 23-12 on the season, but they are clearly playing their best basketball of the season.

Iowa comes into the NCAA Tournament with a record of 26-9, and the Hawkeyes are playing their best basketball of the season. The Hawkeyes won the Big Ten Tournament title in thrilling fashion, and that propelled them to a number five seed. 

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 10.5-point betting favorites in this First Round NCAA Tournament matchup in the Midwest Region. 

Spiders Have to Slow Things Down

Richmond is scoring over 71 points per game this season, but they aren’t going to want to try to win this game with offense. The Spiders have been winning games with its defense, and that will have to be the strategy on Thursday afternoon. 

Three-point shooting has been inconsistent for the Spiders as they are making just 33 percent of their attempts. Forward Tyler Burton leads the team with 16.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, but he is going to have a tough time with the size of Iowa. 

Richmond has been putting together terrific defensive efforts of late, holding their last four opponents to 64 points or less. If the Spiders are able to advance, then it will be due.

Hawkeyes Heating Up

Iowa has been one of the best teams in the country since the month of February, and that’s scary for the rest of the NCAA Tournament field. The Hawkeyes are scoring close to 84 points per game this season, and they can light it up in a hurry.

Keegan Murray leads the team with 23.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, and he is a player that will star at the next level. Jordan Bohannon and Patrick McCaffery are both scoring in double figures as well, and this team is loaded with shooters.

Iowa will give up some points at times, but they just want to get the ball back on offense. The Hawkeyes will look to speed this game up and wear down the Spiders. 

Iowa Rolls to Blow Out Win

Richmond had a great run in the A-10 Tournament, but things are going to be a bit different in the NCAA Tournament. The Spiders just don’t have enough offensive weapons, and that’s going to be a big issue in this matchup, especially.

Iowa looks like a team that is capable of making a run to the Final Four, and they are going to put on a show in the First Round. The Hawkeyes might score the most points during the opening weekend in this game.

Take the Iowa Hawkeyes -10.5, and don’t be surprised if this is a win by more than 20 points.

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