Iowa vs. Richmond prediction, odds, line: 2022 NCAA Tournament picks, March Madness best bets from top model
The Richmond Spiders (23-12) and the Iowa Hawkeyes (26-9) clash in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament on Thursday afternoon. Iowa, the No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region of the March Madness bracket, ended its regular season on a four-game win streak, including 75-66 over Purdue in the Big Ten title game. Likewise, Richmond, the No. 12 seed, won four straight games, including a victory over Davidson in the Atlantic 10 championship game.
Tipoff is at 3:10 ET from KeyBank Center. The Hawkeyes are favored by 9.5 points in the latest Richmond vs. Iowa odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under is 150.5. Before locking in any Iowa vs. Richmond picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of almost $1,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Richmond vs. Iowa and just revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see all of the model's college basketball picks. Here are several college basketball odds and betting lines for Richmond vs. Iowa:
- Richmond vs. Iowa spread: Hawkeyes -9.5
- Richmond vs. Iowa over-under: 150.5 points
- Richmond vs. Iowa money line: Spiders +400, Hawkeyes -550
- IOWA: Hawkeyes are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall
- RICH: Spiders are 6-1 ATS in their last seven neutral site games as underdogs
Why Iowa can cover
Sophomore forward Keegan Murray has been terrific for the Hawkeyes this year. Murray has flashed the ability to score from all over the floor. The Iowa native ranked first in the Big Ten in scoring (23.6) and third in rebounds (8.6). He is also a reliable option from three, shooting 40 percent from downtown. Murray has been aggressive on the boards, recording four double-doubles over his past eight games. In the Big Ten title game, he finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and went 3-for-8 from beyond the arc.
Sophomore forward Kris Murray joins his brother in the frontcourt for the Hawkeyes. He is putting up 9.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. The Iowa native provides a spark off the bench. He's scored in double figures in 16 games during the season. On March 3 against Michigan, Murray dropped 19 points, six rebounds and shot 9-for-11 from the floor. This duo can cause problems for Richmond.
Why Richmond can cover
Junior forward Tyler Burton consistently produced for Richmond and was one of the top players in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Burton ranked third in the conference in scoring (16.3) and seventh in rebounds (7.7). He has also been steady from three, shooting 37 percent from downtown. The Massachusetts native has tallied five double-doubles over his past 10 games. In the Atlantic 10 title game, Burton dropped 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Forward Grant Golden adds more size to Richmond's frontcourt. He logs 14.1 points and 6.1 rebounds, while shooting 51 percent from the floor. The Virginia native has a soft touch around the rim. Golden has scored 15-plus in six of his last 11 outings. In the Atlantic 10 semifinals, he had 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
How to make Richmond vs. Iowa picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 153 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model's Iowa vs. Richmond pick at SportsLine.
