NCAAW: #2 Iowa vs #18 Ohio State Odds, and Picks (Jan 21)

• Iowa dominated Wisconsin, winning 96-50, and earning their 15th straight win
• Ohio State picked up another key road win over Maryland, defeating them 84-76.
• These two teams last faced off on March 5, 2023, in a game that Iowa won 105-72.

The women’s college basketball season is heating up! Let’s preview the Iowa vs Ohio State game. The Hawkeyes continue to surge with Caitlin Clark at the lead, but will face a tough Buckeyes defense here.

How to Watch

• Where: Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
• When: Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 12 p.m ET
• Channel: NBC

Odds

Preview

Iowa continues to coast past their opposition with ease. They’ve won their last four games by an average of 33 points, and have won 13 of their last 15 games by double digits. The impetus for their success has of course been Caitlin Clark, who leads the nation in scoring with 31 ppg. What’s even more impressive is Clark’s newfound ability as a distributor, ranking 2nd in the NCAA in assists and 1st in total triple doubles.

Ohio State opened the season ranked #7, with the expectation that their defense could make them title contenders. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes defense has regressed a bit since last season, pushing them a bit shy of those expectations. That being said, they still remain ranked in the top-20, with plenty of chances to climb in the rankings. This game is one of those chances, and their defense will be fully tested.

Prediction

This should be a much more interesting and competitive game than a lot of people expect. Ohio State’s calling card being defense benefits them here. Playing strong defense on their home court will make it very difficult for Iowa to continue scoring, especially if they double or triple team Caitlin Clark. That being said, the extra attention on Clark has only aided her teammates, who should do more than enough to win.

NCAAW Picks:

• Iowa 74, Ohio State 66 ()