Big Ten College Basketball Bet of the Day | January 17, 2025

Tonight’s college basketball slate features two teams desperate to turn their seasons around, making it the perfect opportunity to explore a rare two-leg teaser. Indiana is reeling after a humiliating loss at home, while Iowa faces a challenging second road game on the West Coast. Both squads are flawed but motivated, and their matchups provide intriguing value for bettors willing to take a calculated risk. Here is why I am leaning toward these underdogs to cover with some teaser assistance.

Write Up Transparency

Be sure to follow me on X/Twitter @C_marchio2 to get my full card every day! Check my Action profile on the Action app @cmarchio. Picks are always FREE.

Last Month in CBB: 33-42 (-15.77 Units)

Last Week in CBB: 8-12 (-4.44 Units)

I AM ICE COLD FADE ME!!!! (3-0) Card Last Night

Big Ten Bet of the Day

Can Iowa recover and secure a much-needed win on their West Coast road trip?

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Basketball games.

There is an unwritten rule about not teasing college basketball games, but the matchups I have circled for tonight make this the perfect opportunity to pull the trigger on a two-leg teaser. Indiana is coming off an embarrassing 94-69 home loss to No. 19 Illinois on Tuesday. They are in a serious rut and need to bounce back immediately. Tonight, they are on the road in Columbus, facing an Ohio State team that is also reeling from back-to-back losses.

The same applies to the Iowa Hawkeyes, who are coming off a ten-point loss to USC on Tuesday. This will be their second game on the West Coast. They are up against a UCLA team falling apart, largely due to their head coach’s public criticism of the squad.

The reason for this teaser is simple: I do not trust either of these teams away from their home gyms. However, their desperate need for a win pushes me toward backing both of these sizable underdogs.

Indiana has shot a dismal 8-for-34 from beyond the arc over their last two games and is hitting just 45% from the floor overall. This is a team that thrives on interior scoring. Another lackluster performance from the Hoosiers, and Mike Woodson could find himself on the hottest seat in the country. The fans and alumni are already calling for his dismissal. He must deliver tonight against an Ohio State team that frequently sends opponents to the free-throw line. If Indiana can attack the basket, draw fouls, and capitalize on free throws, they can avoid a double-digit loss.

Iowa, on the other hand, boasts an incredible offense ranked ninth in the country on the road. However, their defense is their Achilles’ heel. Bart Torvik ranks Iowa’s road defense as the 15th worst in the nation. Against USC on Tuesday, they shot an impressive 21-for-36 from the floor and 11-for-24 from deep but still managed to lose by ten. If Iowa can push the tempo and force turnovers—an area where they rank in the top 75 nationally even on the road—they should keep this game within single digits.

Give me Iowa and Indiana in a five-point teaser to get us ready for a massive Saturday!