Iowa vs Northwestern Odds, Pick: Back This Big Ten Road ‘Dog

Northwestern head coach Chris Collins has done an admirable job with the Wildcats. In a year where they've lost one of their best players, they continue to impress throughout Big Ten play.

Guard Ty Berry, who underwent season-ending surgery for a torn meniscus last month, was a big factor for a Wildcats team that already had a thin rotation. Now, Northwestern hosts Iowa on Saturday in an important bubble game for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa started the year slowly, but its offense has kicked it into gear as the year has progressed. I expect a massive effort from Fran McCaffery's team.

The key factor in the Hawkeyes' matchup against the Cats is their strong interior scoring ability. Northwestern has a weak defense inside, which is where Iowa's offense thrives.

Owen Freeman, Payton Sandfort and Ben Krikke have all been exceptional forwards for the Hawkeyes. Despite not being an elite 3-point shooting team, they rank 12th in adjusted offensive efficiency.

The Hawkeyes are excellent at free-throw shooting and are decent at getting to the line. They prefer a fast-paced game with a high-octane offense and love to live inside the arc and at the charity stripe.

Iowa must win this game to keep its hope of an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament alive, so it should put forth a great effort.

The Hawkeyes have an advantage in the depth department, as the Cats are fragile without Berry. This a perfect matchup for the Iowa offense, and though its defense may struggle at times, its offense is strong enough to get the job done on the road.

If the market offers a generous number on the road, I would even consider backing the Hawkeyes as a short favorite.

As admirable of a job that Collins has done with the Wildcats, their team is due for some negative regression.

First and foremost, it's not Northwestern's fault that it lost Berry for the year, but it will play a major factor in this matchup and for the rest of the season.

I have major concerns about the Wildcats' defense throughout the contest, as they've been getting exposed inside and outside the arc. NU allows opponents to shoot 54% per game, which is very high for a power conference team.

I don't see how the Wildcats will get many stops on the defensive end, meaning their offense needs to take over. And if they need a player to take over a game, look no further than guard Boo Buie.

Buie can take over a game and completely carry his team to victory, but I don't think that one-man show will be enough for this game. Between the negative shooting regression and defensive issues, the Cats are in a lot of trouble at home.

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It's time to sell high on Northwestern, so I will happily take the points with Iowa on the road. Its offense is built perfectly to exploit NU, and it should score at will.

The Hawkeyes struggle to defend the perimeter and rebound the ball on defense, but their offense does plenty to carry them. Also, their rotation is deeper than the Cats', which helps them significantly.

It's been an impressive season for Northwestern, but its luck has to run out eventually. With the Hawkeyes' backs against the wall, I'm confident they bring a big effort to Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Pick: Iowa +4 (Play to PK)

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