Auburn vs Iowa Basketball Prediction & Picks (March Madness 2023 First Round)

A potential matchup with March Madness favorite Houston awaits the winner of this evening’s Auburn (20-12) vs Iowa (19-13) showdown in Birmingham (6:50 pm ET, TNT).

Given the location of this Midwest Regional matchup, the ninth-seeded Tigers are likely to have a significant advantage in the stands at Legacy Arena.

Will the Hawkeyes spoil the Tigers’ opportunity for a catfight with the Cougars? Read on for our Auburn vs Iowa basketball prediction and picks.

Looking for More March Madness Picks?

We will have March Madness predictions and picks for a number of games throughout the tournament, so keep an eye out for them.

And if you are interested in checking out picks for the games we don’t cover, there are a number of reputable sports handicapping services that we recommend.

One of those sources is Doc’s Sports, which has a great offer going right now.

Doc’s Sports offers a lot of free picks and content, but they also offer $60 worth of premium sports picks free for new premium signups.

Auburn vs Iowa Odds

Odds are via BetOnline as of Thursday, March 16, 2023.

Spread

• Auburn -1.5 (-106)
• Iowa +1.5 (-114)

Over/Under

• Over 151.5 (-110)
• Under 151.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Auburn -118
• Iowa -102

Auburn, Iowa Look to Put Poor Stretch Runs Behind Them in Birmingham

Both the Tigers and Hawkeyes might be wondering what could have been, as where they are is arguably not where they should be, based on what they have shown on a number of occasions this season.

Auburn was ranked as high as 11th in the AP poll earlier this season, thanks to an 8-0 start. But since winning 16 of their first 19 games, including six of their first seven in SEC play, the Tigers have lost nine of 13 games. In the SEC Tournament, they were one-and-done, falling in the quarters to Arkansas.

Iowa hasn’t reached such lofty heights this season, but they went into the final stretch before the NCAA Tournament with a chance to potentially move as high as a #5 or #6 seed. But they dropped four of their final six games, including a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal against Ohio State.

Auburn has played 17 games this season against teams who landed in the March Madness bracket, going 7-10 SU and ATS, with their most notable wins being home wins over Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee.

Iowa, meanwhile, has played 15 games against NCAA Tournament teams this season, going 8-7 SU and ATS in those games.

Defense isn’t Iowa’s forte, so if they are held to below 70 points, they aren’t likely to win.

But since allowing under 70 points 15 times in their first 19 games, Auburn has allowed 70+ points ten times in their last 13 games. And in those ten games, the Tigers are just 3-7 SU and 4-6-0 ATS.

That may bode well for Iowa, who is 18-6 SU and 16-8-0 ATS when scoring 70+ points this season and 1-7 SU and ATS when scoring fewer than 70 points.

Auburn vs Iowa Prediction and Picks

Prediction for Auburn vs Iowa: Iowa to win

Picks for Auburn vs Iowa: Iowa ML (Best Value: BetUS) & Iowa team total over 75.5 (Best Value: Bovada Sportsbook)

Both of these teams have been underwhelming down the stretch, but I’m going with the Hawkeyes to pull out the win and move on to a likely meeting with Houston.

Where to Bet on Auburn vs Iowa

Here are four legal sports betting sites that we highly recommend and have reviewed, where you can bet on this year’s NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments, as well as the 2023 NIT.

March is always a very popular time to bet on college basketball, and you can get in on the action at any of the top sports betting sites out there.

But these four books are all reputable names, and you can trust them with your betting funds.

Other March Madness Content at Betting News

If you’d like to check out our other March Madness betting content, here’s a rundown of what we have put together to help you with your NCAA Tournament betting.

We’re also doing a lot of NIT coverage, so check out that content as well.

• March Madness Bracket
• March Madness Odds
• Final Four Odds
• March Madness Sleepers
• March Madness Betting Trends & Stats to Know for 2023
• Where to Find the Best March Madness Betting Picks
• Best March Madness Betting Sites
• Best March Madness Bracket Challenges
• Betting News Bracket Mania (Our FREE March Madness Bracket Challenge!)