Iowa
Indiana vs. Iowa Prediction, Odds and Key Players for Saturday, Jan. 11
Indiana and Iowa meet in a battle of Big Ten teams searching for consistency in what is a crowded conference this season.
The Hawkeyes have been playing in shootouts all season which have led to some wild games, including allowing 116 points to Wisconsin and rallying from down double digits to beat Nebraska. Meanwhile, the talented Hoosiers are starting to find their rhythm this season after a slow start, winners of three straight in Big Ten play.
Can Indiana score an impressive road win against an Iowa team that has been a tough out at home?
Here’s everything you need to know to bet on this Big Ten matchup.
Spread
Moneyline
Total: 166.5 (Over -108/Under -112)
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Indiana
Myles Rice: The Washington State transfer has done plenty for the Hoosiers this season, averaging 12 points with more than three rebounds and three assists to go with more than a steal. Against a fast-paced and offensive-minded Iowa team, Rice will be tasked with keeping this Hoosiers offense on track.
Iowa
Payton Sandfort: After scoring zero points in the first half against Nebraska, Sandfort scored 30 in the second half and overtime to spark a double digit comeback at home. The veteran forward has been a bit down relative to last season, but may have found something with the offensive outburst on Tuesday.
The Hakweyes should be able to dictate the terms of this game in the open court against a porous Indiana transition defense that is bottom 100 in points allowed in transition this season.
The Hawkeyes are an elite three-point shooting team with its ability to space out the floor and should have little issue moving the ball around Indiana’s slow-footed defense, but count on the Hoosiers to be able to score at a high clip as well.
Iowa’s defense has struggled on the glass all season, outside the top 300 in defensive rebounding rate, and is 294th in two-point field goal percentage allowed, per KenPom. With that in mind, the Hoosiers can close the gap with the uber-efficient Hawkeyes (fifth in effective field goal percentage) with its ability to generate more shots.
The Hoosiers are 95th in effective field goal percentage and do most of its work on the interior. With the team’s strong offensive rebounding and ability to score from in close, I like the team’s chances of scoring against Iowa’s shaky frontcourt.
While the total seems high, I can only bet over in this Big Ten matchup. The Hawkeyes’ last 10 games have featured an average of 174 points. The team is consistently playing in shootouts, and I can’t go against it with a willing partner in a high scoring affair in Indiana.
PICK: OVER 166.5
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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Iowa
Arrests made in SD in Iowa courthouse incident
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Two suspects in the incident at the Lyon County, Iowa, courthouse were arrested in Spearfish, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post earlier Saturday.
The sheriff’s office identified two suspects as Brandon Lyle High Pipe, 39, and Luciano Eliseo Sanchez, 18, in a social media post on Thursday. Nationwide warrants were issued for the two suspects.
The sheriff’s office said on Tuesday the courthouse had burglarized overnight. The damage inside includes writing on walls, broken glass, tipped-over Christmas trees and other items tossed around.
The incident caused the courthouse to be closed for at least one day.
The sheriff’s office said on Saturday morning that more information should be released later.
Iowa
Iowa City West sweeps City High in a pair of close contests
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Grace Fincham led the West High girls to a second-half comeback in a 60-51 win over City High, giving the Trojans a win on their rival’s home floor.
The Trojans improve to 6-2 with the win. The Little Hawks drop to 6-2.
In the boys’ nightcap, the Little Hawks’ comeback attempt fell short, as the Trojans held on for a 53-51 win.
Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa
Iowa football dissects LeVar Woods succession plan
The loss of LeVar Woods, the Iowa Hawkeyes’ long-time, elite special teams coordinator, cannot be dismissed. The Hawkeyes have consistently been among the nation’s best special teams units, from punting to kicking to owning the return and field position battle.
With LeVar Woods departing Iowa for Big Ten foe, the Michigan State Spartans, the Hawkeyes have a big hole to fill, and head coach Kirk Ferentz spoke to the media this week on what that succession plan may look like.
“Yeah, it’s not a light decision. The trick will be to find the next LeVar Woods. He’s done a fantastic job. He didn’t have the profile necessarily maybe at that point to predict what he was going to do, but he’s done all the work. It’s like a good player; players do the work. LeVar has done a great job immersing himself and learning every aspect and then growing with each and every turn. So I guess I’m describing what we’re looking for, a guy who’s a good coach, who’s eager to take a challenge on, and immerse themselves in that world.
“Special teams is a unique niche, if you will. I’m sure we’ll have good candidates. It’s not pressing right now in my mind. What is pressing is the next two weeks getting ready for the game, and then after that we’ll have eight plus weeks or eight plus months actually to get it right. I don’t plan on waiting until August to fill it, but we’ll figure that out when we get in the new year,” Ferentz said about LeVar Woods.
The past few seasons, Iowa has been elite on special teams with kicker Drew Stevens being incredibly consistent, the punting game flipping fields, and the run of returners consisting of Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Charlie Jones, Cooper DeJean, and Kaden Wetjen.
The Hawkeyes have won more than their fair share of games relying on this unit, and to continue that success, Ferentz needs to hit on this hire.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
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