NCAAB: Ohio State vs. Iowa odds, preview, and pick

The No. 8 Iowa Hawkeyes broke a two-game losing streak with a close victory against the Michigan State Spartans on Tuesday night, and must quickly turn their attention to a tougher opponent on Thursday.

The Hawkeyes will benefit from home court and no travel, but a matchup against the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes is going to be arguably their second most difficult game of the season behind an early-season defeat against Gonzaga.

Iowa enters the game at 13-4 overall and 7-3 in Big Ten play, good enough for third place in the conference. Ohio State is 14-4 overall and 8-4 in conference play, which technically has them tied for third place as well.

Garza has been unguardable

The Hawkeyes have one of the most proficient offenses in college basketball history, and have continued to score points through their midseason slump. The offense is led by likely Wooden Award winner and fourth-year senior, Luka Garza, who is leading the country at 26.4 points per game.

Garza has size and cleverness around the rim, and while he is an unorthodox big in today’s high-flying game, there has yet to be a team capable of eliminating him from the Iowa gameplan. He has surpassed over 2,000 career points, and will be a matchup nightmare for a Buckeyes team that doesn’t typically play anyone over 6'8".

Ohio State's offense have been lights-out

While Ohio State’s defense isn’t elite, ranking 67th in KenPom’s overall defensive efficiency rankings, the offense has been. The Buckeyes have played one of the tougher schedules of top teams in the nation, and rank fifth overall in offensive efficiency.

They are led by veteran point guard, CJ Walker, a Florida State transfer who has played with current NBA players Jonathan Isaac, Terrence Mann, and Dwayne Bacon. He is a senior that leads the team with 3.9 assists per game, and has found success dishing to a pair of scoring forwards in E.J. Liddell and Justice Sueing. All three players should find success against a below par Iowa defense.

In Iowa we trust

Both Iowa and Ohio State are two of the better offenses in the country, and neither has a defense that will intimidate their opponent. Ohio State has had a few games where they really laid an egg, however, while Iowa shows a consistency that makes them more trustworthy as a short home favorite.

Buckeyes shooting guard Duane Washington Jr. has struggled recently, failing to surpass double-digit points in three straight games, but a matchup against Iowa is a bad time to come in cold.

Garza and the Hawkeyes will be too unstoppable for the Buckeyes to slow down, and the home team will pull away in what should be an exciting shootout.

Score prediction: Iowa 87, Ohio State 80

NCAAB pick: Iowa