7* Big Ten *HEAVY HITTER* on Northwestern +10

Northwestern vs. Iowa, 03/14/2013 20:55 EDT, Score: 59 - 73

Point Spread: +10/-110 Northwestern

Sportsbook: BookMaker

Result: Loss

7* Big Ten *HEAVY HITTER* on Northwestern +10
The Key: Iowa won both regular-season meetings by 20 and 14 points and needs this game to keep its NCAA tourney hopes alive. Oddsmakers are looking to use this knowledge against bettors by overvaluing the Hawkeyes here. Northwestern has lost its last eight games but hasn't quit. The Wildcats played Ohio State and Michigan State to 10-point games, earning covers in both, down the stretch. If Northwestern can play two of the Big Ten elite to 10-point games, it can play Iowa even tougher. Iowa has been unbelievable at home this season, but it has struggled outside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It has lost 6 of its last 7 outside Iowa City with the lone win coming by just 2 points over Penn State. It bodes well for us that Iowa enters off a 14-point win and cover over Nebraska as it is 3-12 ATS in road/neutral-court games since 1997 following a cover as a double-digit favorite. It has lost by an average score of 77.0 to 73.1 in this spot. It is also worth noting that Northwestern is 18-7 ATS since 1997 as a neutral-court underdog or pickem. It has lost these games on average but only by 2.8 points. I should also mention that the underdog is 9-4-1 ATS in the last 14 meetings. All the pressure is on Iowa here. It's the team with something to lose. The Wildcats have the benefit of playing free and lose with nothing to lose. Take the points as they give Iowa a game this time around.

*note: please excuse the original typo. this is a 7* play, not 5*