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Richmond vs Iowa Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds, Picks & Predictions

Hawkeyes Double-Digit Favorite But 5-12 Matchups Are Tricky

· Mar 14 - 4 minutes read

Iowa’s Riding Electric Offense

While some teams are trying to find their identity as the NCAA Tournament arrives, the story is quite clear for Iowa: They’re going to give up a lot of points, but they’re going to score a ton too.

Typically, teams are a factor in the March Madness odds if they play disciplined, smart, tight and hit their free throws. Can Iowa really make a run if they play up-and-down, fast-paced basketball?

Richmond vs Iowa Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds, Picks & Predictions — Justin Casterline/Getty Images/AFP

They’ll get their first test on Thursday when they take on a tricky Richmond team. The Spiders find themselves as a 10½-point dog versus the NCAA odds in this spot but are they a good bet in the sportsbook? Let’s take a closer look.

Let’s check the latest news, stats, injury reports, and March Madness Odds for Richmond vs Iowa. We’ve plenty of predictions for you to consider.

Richmond Coming Off A-10 Title Run

The Spiders have some wind in their sails after an incredible run in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament. This is a team that could have very well missed the tournament had they not earned their automatic bid.

After all, they trailed by double digits in each of their first two tournament games but then came to life and upset Davidson in the championship game. Just recently, fans were calling for their head coach to get fired.

The challenge is that this team is 66th in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency and 117th in the same category for defense. They’re one of the longest shots to win it all at +40000 and many didn’t even expect them to be here.

Can Iowa Ride its Offense, Survive its Defense?

There’s no misunderstanding as to who Iowa is: The Hawkeyes one of the best offensive teams in the country and are nowhere near as good at the other end of the court. They’ll score lots and give up lots.

Keegan Murray is one of the most talented players in the country and has caught the eye of many NBA scouts. He is the leader of this fast-paced offense and if this team is allowed to run-and-gun, they’ll continue to win.

And winning is what this team has been up to a lot of recently. They caught fire in the Big Ten tournament, including an upset of No. 9 Purdue in the championship game. However, they have won four straight and nine of 10.

They’re on a roll right now. Usually, backing teams with momentum is profitable for those who bet online.

Richmond vs Iowa Head-to-Head

Richmond has faced Northern Iowa four times and Iowa State once, but they’ve never faced Iowa, so we have no history with which to work.

Richmond vs Iowa Game Information

Game: Richmond Spiders (23-12) vs Iowa Hawkeyes (26-9)
Location: KeyBank Center – Buffalo, New York
Day/Time: Thursday, 3:10 p.m. ET
Live Stream: TBS.com
2022 March Madness Bracket

Richmond vs Iowa Betting Lines

Richmond vs Iowa Prediction

The stats are quite telling here: Iowa has an electric offense and Richmond isn’t likely to stop it. If Richmond was a good defensive team, the Spiders might be worth considering here. However, they aren’t.

As mentioned above, they’re 117th in the KenPom Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. They are 106th-worst in opponent field goal percentage, allowing their foes to connect at 44.5 percent from the field.

This just isn’t a recipe for success against an Iowa team that is arguably the second-best offense in the country next to Gonzaga. They should not only win but cover this big number.