Sweeps have become the norm. Thursday is a small slate with great opportunity. Let’s keep the momentum going. Here are the College Basketball Picks for December 7th.
College Basketball Picks December 7th
Iowa vs. Iowa State (-7) (O/U 154.5)
In-state rivalry with a revenge angle. Iowa State lost by 19 last season when they went into Iowa City. The home team has won this matchup in the last three seasons, and the books expect the trend to happen with a respectable line.
I’m focusing more on the total here than the spread. Iowa averages 87.9 points per game, and Iowa State comes into the contest averaging 82.9. On the surface, this would indicate that the totals look too low. Iowa likes to push the pace. However, they will be on the road in a hostile environment where they have shown they struggle to score. The last trip to Ames resulted in just 53 points for the Hawkeyes.
Expect the Iowa State defense to force the Hawkeyes into shooting from the perimeter out of half-court offenses, which will make them uncomfortable. Iowa State’s defense stands up year after year, but the verdict is still out on Cylcones’ offense against tougher competition.
Gameday in the 515. #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/ruHUpKjqcG
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) December 7, 2023
This matchup hasn’t cleared 130 points in the last two matchups but is bumped another 20 points for the teams as they stand today. Double digits have decided the last five matchups, and if this game avoids late fouling again, then the total is too high.
The Pick: Under 154.5
IUPUI vs. Eastern Illinois (-4.5) (O/U 131)
Another revenge angle as IUPUI led at half a season ago at home, but Eastern Illinois left the court with a double-digit win. Eastern Illinois takes home court for this game, seeking the same result against an uninspiring IUPUI team. This is a battle of sub-300 Ken Pom teams, with IUPUI ranking at 308 and Eastern Illinois at 330.
Don’t expect an offensive clinic in this one. Neither team puts an efficient offense on the floor. I’m siding with the under in a slow-paced non-conference game between teams that have seen each other before. We’ve seen offensive lulls and struggles with IUPUI. Seeing more than one double-digit scorer for the Jaguars tonight would be surprising.
IUPUI is 1-6 against the spread, but the focus is on the under as it has cashed in four of their seven games with lines. Games against Spalding and Cleary don’t qualify.
The Pick: Under 131
