Big 10 foes will collide when the Iowa Hawkeyes (3-1) challenge the Penn State Nittany Lions (6-2) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Neither team is favored and the games Over/Under (O/U) opened at 152.5 points. Action gets underway at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 2, 2017.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Free Preview
In the Nittany Lions last contest, they were beaten by the North Carolina State Wolfpack, 85-78. Penn State’s Tony Carr had a solid game, leading both teams in scoring with 29 points on 12-for-25 shooting. North Carolina State had a free throw rate of 0.439 (above their season average of 0.293). Penn State, on the other hand, had an offensive rebounding percentage of 47.6 (above their season average of 33.3).
The Hawkeyes are hoping for a better outcome after their 79-55 loss to the Virginia Tech Hokies in their last game. With six points, 14 rebounds and six assists, Cordell Pemsl played well for Iowa. Virginia Tech did a great job of making free throws (22-28; 78.6 percent). Iowa, on the other hand, held the Hokies to an offensive rebounding percentage of 23.7 (below the 33.6 mark opponents have averaged against Iowa this season).
This has potential to be a sloppy game for the offense of Iowa. Dating back to the 2016-17 season, Iowa ranks 188th in the NCAA in ball protection (turnover percentage of 18.8 percent), while the pesky defense of Penn State has forced the 43rd-most turnovers in the NCAA (21.3 percent).
The Nittany Lions are 21-20 straight up (SU) and 20-16 against the spread (ATS) since last season. Penn State games have had a tendency to finish under the O/U total since last season (55.6 percent).
The Hawkeyes are 21-15 SU since last season, but are just 15-18-2 ATS. Iowa’s games have finished under the O/U total 51.4 percent of the time over that same period.
The Hawkeyes won the sole game against the Nittany Lions last season, 90-79. The Hawkeyes dominated nearly every stat category in the game. They had a free throw rate of 0.246 and a solid effective field goal percentage of 0.569. The Nittany Lions were 0.129 and 0.500, respectively, for those same stats.
Penn State Nittany Lions at Iowa Hawkeyes Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Penn State, ATS Winner – Penn State, O/U – Under
Betting Notes (2016-Present):
- The Nittany Lions rank 145th in assists allowed per game (13.0) while the Hawkeyes rank 311th (16.9).
- Iowa ranks 80th in blocks per game (4.1) while Penn State ranks 238th in blocks allowed per game (4.2).
- Iowa ranks 38th in rebounds per game (38.8) while Penn State ranks 274th in rebounds allowed per game (37.7).
- The Nittany Lions rank 34th in steals per game (7.6) while the Hawkeyes rank 267th in steals allowed per game (7.7).
- Penn State ranks 94th in three pointers allowed per game (20.1) while Iowa ranks 274th (23.5).
