Iowa -2½ at Minnesota
Game Time: 2/7/2007 8:00:00 PM
By: Bill Young
Back the Iowa Hawkeyes as road favorites tonight when they travel to Minnesota to play the Golden Gophers.
Iowa is 6-2 against the spread in conference play this season and getting deep into the Big Ten season when the Hawkeyes are known to play their best ball.
Iowa (13-10, 5-4 Big Ten) won the first matchup this year 60-49 at Carver Hawkeye Arena. Adam Haluska finished with 22 points followed by Tyler Smith’s 15 points. Mike Henderson and Tony Freeman both added seven in a game that the Hawkeyes defense looked great. Iowa is a team that doesn’t commit a lot of fouls as the Golden Gophers went to the line just seven times. This game won't be any different.
Minnesota is 9-14 on the year and one of the worst teams in the Big Ten with a 3-6 conference mark. Iowa is 6-0 against the spread on Wednesday games this season. Minnesota is 3-6 against the spread at home this season averaging just 64 points per game.
Iowa is coming off two huge victories, one at Michigan and then at home over #24 Indiana. The Hawkeyes have the Big Ten's leading scorer in Haluska who is averaging over 20 per game. They also have two explosive guards in Henderson and Freeman who can handle the ball and shoot from anywhere. Tyler Smith, one of the best freshmen in the conference behind Ohio State's Greg Oden, averages nearly 16 a game. The Hawkeyes lean on Haluska and Smith to win games for them, but the rest of the team is very solid all around.
Minnesota has zero returning starters from last year's disappointing team and this year hasn't looked any better. Look for the Hawkeyes to embarrass the Golden Gophers tonight.
Play: Iowa -2½
Game Time: 2/7/2007 8:00:00 PM
By: Bill Young
Back the Iowa Hawkeyes as road favorites tonight when they travel to Minnesota to play the Golden Gophers.
Iowa is 6-2 against the spread in conference play this season and getting deep into the Big Ten season when the Hawkeyes are known to play their best ball.
Iowa (13-10, 5-4 Big Ten) won the first matchup this year 60-49 at Carver Hawkeye Arena. Adam Haluska finished with 22 points followed by Tyler Smith’s 15 points. Mike Henderson and Tony Freeman both added seven in a game that the Hawkeyes defense looked great. Iowa is a team that doesn’t commit a lot of fouls as the Golden Gophers went to the line just seven times. This game won't be any different.
Minnesota is 9-14 on the year and one of the worst teams in the Big Ten with a 3-6 conference mark. Iowa is 6-0 against the spread on Wednesday games this season. Minnesota is 3-6 against the spread at home this season averaging just 64 points per game.
Iowa is coming off two huge victories, one at Michigan and then at home over #24 Indiana. The Hawkeyes have the Big Ten's leading scorer in Haluska who is averaging over 20 per game. They also have two explosive guards in Henderson and Freeman who can handle the ball and shoot from anywhere. Tyler Smith, one of the best freshmen in the conference behind Ohio State's Greg Oden, averages nearly 16 a game. The Hawkeyes lean on Haluska and Smith to win games for them, but the rest of the team is very solid all around.
Minnesota has zero returning starters from last year's disappointing team and this year hasn't looked any better. Look for the Hawkeyes to embarrass the Golden Gophers tonight.
Play: Iowa -2½
