Northwestern Wildcats vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Picks and Prediction for Sunday, February 8, 2026
Use Code WWWC It’s a Big Ten contest on the hardwood as the Northwestern Wildcats travel to the Hawkeye State to battle the Iowa Hawkeyes Sunday afternoon and we have you covered with our Northwestern vs. Iowa prediction. Northwestern was bombed 84-44 on the road by #5 Illinois Wednesday night in their previous contest, failing to cover the line as a 15.5-point underdog. Iowa picked up an 84-74 road win over Washington in their previous game Wednesday night, covering the line as a 2.5-point favorite. In the all-time series between the teams, the Hawkeyes own a 126-62 advantage but the Wildcats picked up a 68-57 home win in the most recent meeting February 28, 2025. Read more about this Northwestern vs. Iowa prediction! Struggling with handicapping? Get our top NCAAB Betting Picks and increase your bankroll!
Northwestern Hoping to Get Back in Win Column
Northwestern was hammered on the road by #5 Illinois Wednesday night in their previous game as they fell for the eighth time in 10 games. The Wildcats dropped to 10-13 overall and stand 14th in the Big Ten with a 2-10 mark in conference play. Against Illinois, Northwestern took their biggest lead at 5-2 early and their last lead at 7-5 with 15:57 to play in the first half. Things fell apart from there as Illinois took control with a 25-2 run for a 30-9 advantage and Northwestern never recovered. The Wildcats trailed 47-19 at the half and by as many as 49 en route to the loss. Northwestern shot a putrid 29.2% from the floor, including four of 25 from three-point range, and was dominated 50-23 on the boards in the contest. No Wildcats player finished in double figures as Tre Singleton led the way with eight in the loss.
The Wildcats enter this contest 211th in scoring offense by putting up 75.2 points per game on the year. Northwestern is collecting an average of 32.6 boards a night while ranking 26th by dishing out 17.7 assists a game. The Wildcats are good on the defensive end of the floor, ranking 125th in scoring defense as they allow 71 points per contest. Nick Martinelli leads the Wildcats offensively as he puts up 22.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Arrinten Page (11.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists), Jayden Reid (10.3 points, 5.2 assists) and Justin Mullins are good secondary scoring threats. Tre Singleton, Angelo Ciaravino, Max Green, K.J. Windham, Jake West, Tyler Kropp, Phoenix Gill and Jordan Clayton are capable rotation pieces for Northwestern this season. The Wildcats shoot 46% from the field on the season, putting them 144th in the country. Northwestern knocks down 6.3 triples per game while shooting 31.9% from beyond the arc, leaving them 322nd in the nation. The Wildcats have been above average at the free throw line, converting 74.1% of their chances at the line this season, leaving them 113th in that department.
Key Injury Report for Northwestern:
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- No Key Injuries
Hawkeyes Shooting for Sixth Straight Win
Iowa ran their win streak to five games as they took care of business on the road against Washington in their previous contest. The Hawkeyes improved to 17-5 overall and stand eighth in the Big Ten with a 7-4 mark in conference play. Against Washington, Iowa led by as many as three and trailed by as many as eight in the first half before going to the dressing room 48-41 at the half. The Hawkeyes regrouped into the second half, outscoring the Huskies 43-26, to earn the victory. Iowa shot 59.6% from the floor, including nine of 19 from three-point range, and forced 12 turnovers, which they converted into 22 points. Bennett Stirtz led the Hawkeyes with 22 points and five assists in the win.
The Hawkeyes are putting up an average of 78.2 points a night on the season, putting them 135th in the nation. Iowa is collecting 29.9 boards a night while they are handing out 15.9 assists (76th) per game. The Hawkeyes are above average defensively, ranking 8th in scoring defense by allowing 63.5 points a night. Bennett Stirtz is one of two Iowa players averaging in double figures with 19.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and five assists per game this season. Tavion Banks (10.8 points, 4.3 rebounds), Alvaro Folgueiras and Cooper Koch are capable secondary scoring options. Cam Manyawu, Isaia Howard, Tate Sage, Kael Combs, Brendan Hausen and Trevin Jirak are all good pieces for coach Ben McCollum to work with in his rotation. Iowa is shooting 51.2% from the field this season, which is 9th in the nation. The Hawkeyes are knocking down 38.1% of their attempts (21st in Division I) from long range while sinking an average of 8.3 triples (142nd) a night. Iowa has been above average at the charity stripe, cashing in 76.7% of their chances at the line, putting them 36th in Division I.
Key Injury Report for Iowa:
- No Key Injuries
Northwestern vs. Iowa Pick
Northwestern vs. Iowa Spread Pick
- Iowa -12.5 (4 units)
Northwestern is struggling right now with eight losses in their last 10 games and come in off a 40-point pasting at the hands of Illinois. The Wildcats haven’t won at Carver-Hawkeye Arena since March 3, 2012. Iowa has taken the last 10 meetings between the teams here and have won five straight conference tilts entering this contest. The Hawkeyes are stingy defensively as McCollum has gotten his team to buy into his style of play. Iowa is 11-1 at home on the year while Northwestern is just 2-5 as the visiting team, dropping four of their last five on the road. Seeing how Northwestern struggled against Illinois, things won’t be any easier for the Wildcats here. Take Iowa to roll to the victory here.
Northwestern vs. Iowa Over/Under Pick
- Under 140.5 (4 units)
Northwestern has stayed under the number in 12 of their 23 games in relation to the total this season. The Wildcats rank 94th in defensive efficiency, 146th in field goal percentage defense (43.2%), 1st in turnovers committed per game (8.2) and 114th in three-point field goal percentage defense (32.3%) on the year. Northwestern is 261st in adjusted tempo with 65.8 possessions a night. Iowa is 20th in offensive efficiency, 22nd in defensive efficiency, 10th in effective field goal percentage (58.9%), 40th in turnovers per game (10), 12th in two-point shooting (60.2%), 142nd in threes per game and 21st in three-point shooting. Iowa is stingy defensively and after seeing Northwestern put up putrid numbers against Illinois, this game winds up short of the mark.
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