Iowa’s season-long reputation of good offense/bad defense may no longer apply. In the Hawkeyes’ last five outings, four opponents scored in the 60s and the other in the 50s. The Under cashed in all five. Michigan’s shootout with Ohio State on Sunday was an aberration. The Wolverines were Under in six of their previous seven games and held Maryland to 63 points in the lone Over. Iowa’s scoring machine, Luka Garza, must fight for space in the low post against Michigan's 7-1 freshman center, Hunter Dickinson.

Easily the game of the night from the Big Ten; KenPom ranks Michigan No. 3 nationally and Iowa No. 4. This is the only scheduled meeting between the schools, although they could easily meet in the Big Ten Tournament title game (if in opposite brackets) and/or in Final Four (if in right brackets). The Hawkeyes are better offensively, while the Wolverines are defensively. This is me simply thinking the spread is too large and maybe, just maybe, a tiny letdown for UM off a huge win at blood-rival Ohio State on Sunday in a spectacular game. The Hawkeyes are more than capable of winning outright but this feels like a last possession type of game so we'll take the points.

The Wolverines are undefeated at home as they prepare to host Iowa in a must-see matchup. The Hawkeyes have won four straight, beating Michigan State, Wisconsin, Rutgers and Penn State, but Michigan is on another level. The Wolverines are top-12 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Iowa leads the nation in offensive efficiency but ranks 75th in defensive efficiency. Look for the home team to cover for the fifth straight time in this series.