NCAAB: Indiana vs. Iowa betting odds, preview, and pick

This year’s college basketball season looks more stratified than many years past, with a few elite teams near the top drawing the lion’s share of futures money. One such team is the Iowa Hawkeyes, who at 12-2 enter Thursday night as the fourth-ranked team in the country.

The Hawkeyes will face off against the Indiana Hoosiers, who are 8-6, and are coming off a disappointing 81-69 loss to Purdue.

Iowa's offense is firing on all cylinders

Iowa has the most efficient offense in the country so far this year, and has been so good they are shaping up to be one of the best in college hoops history. The Hawkeyes are averaging 1.23 points per possession, an incredible statistic that has them scoring points at an unprecedented rate.

What should be even scarier for the visiting Hoosiers is the fact the Hawkeyes are predictably more efficient at home. Iowa’s lowest scoring output was 70 points in a 15-point victory against a Purdue Boilermakers squad that easily defeated these visiting Hoosiers.

Garza has been a one-man wrecking crew

A large contributor to the Hawkeyes’ offensive juggernaut is Wooden Award favorite Luka Garza. Garza averages the most points per game of any player in the country at 26.9, and adds 8.7 rebounds per contest as well.

Bohannon has come into his own in his senior season

While Garza receives much of the notoriety, it's his veteran counterpart that really opens up the floor for the big man and the rest of the team. Fifth year senior guard Jordan Bohannon, who received a redshirt after injury last year, leads the team in assists and is a positively lethal shooter. With Bohannon and fellow sharpshooters Joe Wieskamp and CJ Frederick, Iowa spaces the floor well and presents nightmare matchups for opposing defenses.

Indiana is vulnerable to sharpshooters

The Indiana Hoosiers, meanwhile, have a talented roster, but have struggled on the defensive side of the court, especially on the perimeter, where they give up 21.9 points per game from beyond the arc. In their last matchup against the Boilermakers, Indiana allowed Iowa to shoot 11-of-17 from deep. Sophomore star Trayce Jackson-Davis holds his own in the paint, but the guards struggle to keep opposing playmakers from lighting up the scoreboard. Against a deep and offensively proficient group like the Hawkeyes, this will be a recipe for disaster.

Iowa is on a five-game winning streak and has been scoring at will. With Indiana struggling to stop weaker defenses than this, it may be a long night for the Hoosiers. Look for Iowa to continue their trek toward a Big Ten regular season conference championship and win going away.

Score prediction: Iowa 91, Indiana 77

NCAAB pick: Iowa