Updated Iowa vs. Richmond Odds, Spread, Pick & Predictions for 2022 NCAA Tournament

by BettingPros Staff |
Mar 14, 2022

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Richmond Spiders 2022 NCAA Tournament Game Preview

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Iowa Hawkeyes Preview

Since Feb. 1, Iowa ranks second in the nation in adjusted efficiency. Let me repeat that: Iowa has been the second-best team in college basketball since Feb. 1, according to Bart Torvik. The Hawkeyes rounded out the regular season by going 8-2 with some ridiculous offensive performances.

Keegan Murray has can lead this team anywhere he wants. The 6-8 sophomore helps spread the floor, opening up looks for Jordan Bohannon or Kris Murray. Iowa plays at a fast pace and showcases incredible offensive firepower. This squad takes care of the ball and can score from anywhere on the court.

Itâ€™s hard to trust a team that depends so much on offense, but Iowaâ€™s defense has improved over the year as well. While the Hawkeyes sit at 83rd in defensive efficiency, they've ranked 49th in that metric since that Feb 1.

This team is incredibly dangerous and incredibly difficult to prepare for, especially on short notice. This is one of my favorite sleeper teams to make the Final Four.

Richmond Spiders Preview

After stealing a bid in the Atlantic 10, the Spiders are crawling into the NCAA Tournament. Richmond didn't just sneak into it either, taking down the top teams in the conference â€“ VCU, Dayton, and Davidson â€“ to get here.

Six of their 12 losses this season were by one possession or in overtime. The Spiders are an experienced squad that takes care of the ball better than basically anyone in the tournament. Their 68th-ranked offensive efficiency showed up in the A10 tournament, but I have to imagine they'll face better defenses, given the double-digit seed they are.

This team has a solid frontcourt with Grant Golden and Tyler Burton. Those two are a big reason Richmond is in this position. The Spiders can keep with most teams. It's just a matter of whether they've learned how to play a full 40 minutes and can handle the pressure of close games late.

Rapid Prediction for Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Richmond Spiders

In a battle of conference tournament champions, Iowa will look to avoid the dreaded 12-seed upset as they take on Richmond. The Hawkeyes ranked fourth in the country in scoring, pouring in 84.0 points per game. They're led by impressive sophomore Keegan Murray, who took home a host of awards this season, including First Team All-American and Big Ten Tournament MVP. Richmond entered the Atlantic 10 tournament as the 6 seed but marched all the way to the finals to beat top-seeded Davidson and earn their NCAA Tournament bid. In fact, the Spiders beat each of the top three seeds in the Atlantic 10 to punch their ticket to the dance.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Richmond Spiders Round 1 Game Pick

Iowa -9.5

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