Southeast Missouri State vs. Iowa Prediction Tonight: Odds & Picks for Nov. 18

My Southeast Missouri State vs. Iowa prediction anticipates a low-scoring matchup tonight.

Iowa is 3-0 under new head coach Ben McCollum, while Southeast Missouri State has started 1-3 (0-3 against Division I opponents). Iowa is a 24.5-point betting favorite, with tipoff from Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network).

✅ Southeast Missouri State vs. Iowa prediction & expert picks

See all of our experts' college basketball picks this week.

🏀 Southeast Missouri State vs. Iowa preview & score prediction

Iowa has won all three of its games against Robert Morris, Western Illinois, and Xavier by 19-plus points. And while it should have little difficulty getting to 4-0 against Southeast Missouri State, I am looking more to the Under as the top play in this game as opposed to anything involving the point spread.

Southeast Missouri State’s defensive numbers should improve

Part of what allowed the Redhawks to create a mini dynasty over the last several years in the Ohio Valley Conference was their commitment to the defensive end.

Southeast Missouri State was elite in transition denial and efficiency last season, and ranked in the ninth percentile in catch-and-shoot denial. However, it was always due to regress offensively after some head-scratching shotmaking that overcame a 97th percentile low shot quality rate with a 96th percentile efficiency rating on those shots.

This year, the Redhawks have been a sieve defensively, ranking in the bottom 10 in effective field goal percentage and 2-point percentage allowed. But the good news is that Iowa is not playing anything like it used to under Fran McCaffery, opting for lower-possession games and ranking in the top 10 for the slowest tempo.

Southeast Missouri State entered the season with the third-worst overall and ATS record among OVC teams since head coach Brad Korn took over in 2020. While that has me backing the Hawkeyes on the point spread, I am backing the Under as a more confident four-star play, which has cashed in both of Iowa’s games following a win this season. 

The best number and price is at BetMGM, the only one of our best sports betting sites charging less than the standard -110 juice at 52.38% implied odds to back the Under. Through its -105 odds, a $10 winning wager would net $9.52 in profits.

Score prediction: Iowa 87, Southeast Missouri State 59

💰 Missouri sports betting

🆚 Southeast Missouri State vs. Iowa matchup to watch

Southeast Missouri State offense vs. Iowa Defense

Iowa has faced one KenPom team ranked outside the top 240, holding Western Illinois to 58 points on 43.8% shooting inside the arc.

The Hawkeyes’ outstanding defense that has held all three opponents thus far to fewer than 70 points largely stems from a top 15 turnover rate that forces turnovers at a 24.3% clip.

Since Iowa has a quick turnaround with another game on Thursday, I expect it to use its 359th-ranked tempo to grind this game to a halt and force the Redhawks to operate at its pace in the half court.

Best prop bet: Southeast Missouri State team total Under 61.5 (-102 via FanDuel)

I feature more NCAAM plays worth tailing in my college basketball best bets & player props tonight.

📊 Southeast Missouri State vs. Iowa odds

See live college basketball odds for every game.

📺 How to watch Southeast Missouri State vs. Iowa tonight

• Date: Tuesday, Nov. 18
• Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, Iowa)
• TV: Big Ten Network