Maryland vs. Iowa, Saturday, Odds, Preview, Picks and Prediction, Saturday, December 6, 2025
Use Code WWWC Big 10 action resumes Saturday with a Maryland vs. Iowa prediction from Iowa City. Maryland (6-3, 3-6 ATS) is attempting to win their first conference games and they are finally getting healthy. Iowa (7-1, 6-2 ATS, 0-1 B10) is coming off a 71-52 loss at Michigan State on Tuesday as a 5.5-point underdog. They were undefeated before they fell at Sparty. Last season, the Terps took the only matchup 101-75 at home as an 11.5-point favorite. Who will win this Big 10 matchup at 4pmET? Iowa is a 9.5-point favorite and the total is 135.5. Keep reading for the side and total and check out more free college basketball picks at Winners and Whiners.
Terps still looking for chemistry
Maryland's last win came over Wagner at home on Tuesday, 89-63, breaking a two-game losing streak from the Players Era Tournament, where they were crushed by Gonzaga (100-61) and Alabama (105-72). The Terps have a brand-new roster and a new coaching staff led by Buzz Williams. He brought a few players with him from Texas A&M, including Solomon Washington, who had 10 points and six rebounds in his season debut. Washington, like many Maryland players, was out due to an injury.
Pharrel Payne (6-10, 250), who appeared to suffer a serious hip injury after a dunk three weeks ago in a 89-82 win over Marquette on Nov. 15, shockingly returned after missing just one game (Mount St. Mary's). He had a season-high 30 points in the win over Wagner and is averaging 18.9 points and 6.8 rebounds. Maryland is ranked 92nd on KenPom, 126th in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency and 65th in Adjusted Defense. Maryland has also struggled with turnovers, ranking 285th in assist-to-turnover ratio.
Maryland has no key recent injuries.
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Hawkeyes get outclassed against Sparty
Michigan State is ranked seventh in the nation for a reason. This might be one of Tom Izzo's best teams in years. His Spartans rolled over the Hawkeyes on Tuesday by 19, while shooting 50% from the field and outrebounding them 33-15. The Hawkeyes had just one player in double figures, led by Bennett Stirtz, who had 14 points (4-of-10, 3-8 3pt) with four assists, but had four turnovers and went 3 of 6 from the line. Iowa shot just 38% from the field and 30% (7-23) from beyond the arc.
Iowa had looked pretty good before that loss, winning seven straight games and covering six of seven. Two of those wins came against Xavier (81-62) and Ole Miss (74-69). The Hawkeyes also have a new coach in Ben McCollum, who came from nearby Drake (Des Moines), which is about two hours from Iowa City. Like Buzz Williams, he also brought some players from his former school, led by Stirtz, who is averaging 18 points and 1.8 steals on 48.9% shooting and 44.2% from long range.
Forward Alvaro Folguieras (6-10, 230), a Robert Morris transfer, adds 9.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists, while shooting 53.3% from the field and 44% (11 of 25) from long range. Iowa is 32nd on KenPom and 35th in Adjusted Offense, Defense and assist-to-turnover ratio.
No key recent injuries for Iowa
Betting Trends for Maryland vs. Iowa
Md is:
- 3-0 Over last 3 games
- 6-1 Over last 7 games.
- 3-7 ATS last 10 games.
Iowa is:
- 6-1 ATS last 7 games overall and home games.
Spread Pick for Maryland vs. Iowa
Maryland vs. Iowa Pick and Prediction
- Iowa 68-Maryland 66
- Maryland +9.5 (4 units)
Maryland is finally healthy, and Payne will have a big impact in the paint. Sure, Maryland got crushed in Las Vegas against Alabama and Gonzaga, but those teams are top-15 quality and needed to win big to advance in a tournament that was all about point differential. The Terps went up to Milwaukee and upset Marquette as an 8.5-point favorite. They've been more battle-tested, so I expect this game to basically go down to the wire.
- Under 135.5 (4 units)
Iowa was an uptempo team under former coach Fran McCaffery and under McCollum, they are the complete opposite, with an Adjusted Tempo of 359. Maryland pushes the ball more (163rd), but they'll have to slow it down some on the road against a methodical team. Iowa has gone under in two straight games. Even though they had different staff and players, these teams have played unders in three of the last four meetings.
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