Minnesota (4-4) at Iowa (6-3)
When: Monday, December 9th, 2019
Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena,
Iowa City, IA
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: Big Ten Network
Opening Odds: Iowa -6.5/145
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The Minnesota Golden Gophers have struggled early-on in their non-conference matchups, dropping four of them for the first time in 13 years, but get a fresh slate when they open Big Ten play Monday night at the Iowa Hawkeyes. Three of Minnesota’s four losses have come against teams that were favored against them, while the Gophers are 3-1 SU as a favorite including last week’s 78-60 win over Clemson as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Iowa, meanwhile, has gone 2-2 in their last four games- all away from home – and routed Syracuse in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge before losing their conference opener 103-91 at Michigan on Friday night. It was the most points allowed by an Iowa team since 2012, and they now rank 265th in points allowed at 72.8 on the season. The Hawkeyes have dropped the last two meetings with the Gophers – both in Minneapolis – but have won the last two played in Iowa City. The Gophers are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
Pittsburgh transfer guard Marcus Carr had his best game so far as a member of the Gophers, recording 24 points, nine assists and five rebounds in the win over Clemson. Center Daniel Oturu is ninth in the country in blocked shots per game (3.38) and had four of them versus Clemson to go along with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Guard Gabe Kalscheur, who shot 41 percent from 3-point range last season, has scored in double-digits in five straight games despite hitting just 3-of-13 shots against DePaul in Nov. 29. Minnesota will host the unbeaten Ohio State Buckeyes in their next game on Sunday.
Forward Luka Garza averaged 13.1 points a game in 2018-19, but has been asked to take more of the scoring load and has answered. He entered Sunday’s games ranking eighth in the country and first in the Big Ten at 22.7 points per game after a career-high 44 against Michigan – the most in school history since 1970 – and is the 49th player in program history to reach 1,000 points for his career. Connor McCaffery was the second-leading scorer on Friday with 12 points, but the team shot just 3-of-15 from beyond the arc and were outrebounded 36-28.
I think these teams are pretty even, but the difference will be at the defensive end. The advantage there goes to Minnesota, where they allow just 63.0 points a game. Iowa is having trouble stopping opponents right now and I see the Gophers keeping it close.
Pick: Minnesota +6.5
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Golden Gophers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite.
Golden Gophers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Golden Gophers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 Monday games.
Golden Gophers are 9-20 ATS in their last 29 games following a ATS win.
Golden Gophers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games as a road favorite.
Golden Gophers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Golden Gophers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Hawkeyes are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Hawkeyes are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss.
Hawkeyes are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 90 points in their previous game.
Hawkeyes are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog.
Hawkeyes are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 home games following three or more consecutive road games.
Hawkeyes are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games.
Hawkeyes are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Monday games.
Under is 4-0 in Golden Gophers last 4 road games following three or more consecutive home games.
Under is 5-1 in Golden Gophers last 6 games following a ATS win.
Under is 4-1 in Golden Gophers last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 7-2 in Golden Gophers last 9 overall.
Under is 19-6-1 in Golden Gophers last 26 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 19-6-1 in Golden Gophers last 26 road games.
Over is 13-5-1 in Golden Gophers last 19 Monday games.
Under is 18-7-1 in Golden Gophers last 26 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 5-2 in Golden Gophers last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Golden Gophers last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 5-2 in Golden Gophers last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 9-1-1 in Hawkeyes last 11 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game.
Over is 19-7 in Hawkeyes last 26 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 5-2 in Hawkeyes last 7 games as a home underdog.
Under is 5-2 in Hawkeyes last 7 home games following three or more consecutive road games.
Under is 5-2 in Hawkeyes last 7 home games.
Home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
