Game: (739) DePaul Blue Demons (3-0) @ (740) Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0)
Time: Monday 11/11 8:00 PM EST at Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Spread: Iowa -10 ML: -500/+400 Total: 147 at 5Dimes
Tools: Public Consensus | View Matchups | Bet This Game
DePaul heads to Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes in a non-conference Big Ten vs Big East matchup for The Gavitt Tipoff.
DePaul has already had a successful start to the season by winning their first 3 games. Last year, the Blue Demons recorded their first winning season since 2007 and made the finals of the CBI last season. Coach Dave Leitao will be rejoining the Blue Demons, after a 3-game suspension from the off-season for “failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance” and failing to “prevent violations from occurring in his program.”
The Hawkeye’s did not have much difficulty in its season-opening victory, blowing by SIU-Edwardsville 87-60 on Friday night. Luka Garza had 20 points and 12 rebounds and Joe Wieskamp scored 16 points as the Hawkeyes opened a 12-point halftime lead and never looked back.
The DePaul Blue Demons have played impressive basketball to open the season as they are sitting at a perfect 3-0 record, and I think they will be improved from their previous seasons as they have a couple of key players. The Blue Demons were active on the transfer market this offseason, and they were able to win over Kansas guard Charlie Moore. DePaul is finally moving in the right direction, and it can be tempting to pick the Blue Demons in a spot where they’re getting nine points. But I don’t love the idea of picking them in their first true road game without any real evidence that DePaul is ready to win on this level.
Through 3 games this season, DePaul is averaging scoring 75.3 points per game and have allowed 56 points per game. After 1 game this season, Iowa has scored 87 points per game and have allowed 60 points per game. Depaul guard, Moore has gotten off to a fast start, averaging 19.3 points and 5.0 assists while hitting 8 of 14 from beyond the arc. Reed has recorded a pair of double-doubles while averaging 11.3 points and 9.7 rebounds, he will have to be at his best in this game, though, because he’s got a tough matchup in Iowa center Luka Garza. Jaylen Butz is second in scoring at 12 points per game while hitting 16 of 23 shots (69.6 percent).
Depaul might be able to cover this spread if Reed can keep Garza from scoring. Iowa could cover as long as they do not have a low scoring game. The question here is going to be how will these teams face each others defense considering neither team has faced a tough opponent yet and both have a lot of new faces. It might be tempting to pick the Blue Demons in a spot where they’re getting points but on their first true road game without any real evidence that they can win on this level?