#9 Iowa vs. #1 Florida Picks and Predictions: Round of 32
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Sun Mar 22, 2026, 1:42 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Ben McCollum just keeps on winning in the postseason as the Iowa Hawkeyes knocked off the Clemson Tigers in the Round of 64. However now they go up against the regular season SEC Champions and the No. 1 seed in this South Region. Not to mention the defending National Champions, in Todd Golden and the Florida Gators. Playing in Tampa makes it even tougher, but can the Hawkeyes find a way to pull off this upset? Check out our expert picks below.
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Best Bet: Florida -10 (-115) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Go check out what else I've got on my daily card, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.
#9 Iowa Hawkeyes vs. #1 Florida Gators NCAA Basketball Insights
Bennett Stirtz and the Hawkeyes take on the defending National Champions in the Round of 32
Bennett Stirtz does everything for the Hawkeyes. He played all 40 minutes against Clemson and totaled 16 points, 5 rebounds and a couple assists while only turning the ball over one time. It's outrageous what he can do on the floor, and in a game that only had 54 possessions, it's clear that McCollum makes sure to limit his opponent's offensive possessions. Thus forcing them to be incredibly efficient.
However, Florida is that team. The Gators do have trouble shooting from beyond the arc (sometimes), but they prefer to play inside and feed their big men. They have several options down low and will use them all to exploit Iowa's lack of size. Although the Hawkeyes will burn as much time as they can on offense, I think Florida will still be able to find ways to score.
Matchup Information – Iowa vs. Florida – March 22
- Venue & Location: Benchmark International Arena (Tampa, FL)
- Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
- Kick Off: 7:10 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: TBS
Iowa vs. Florida Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of March 22, 2026 at 12:48 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- Iowa +10 (-106)
- Florida -10 (-115)
Moneyline
- Iowa +415
- Florida -575
Total
- Over 144.5 (-110)
- Under 144.5 (-110)
#9 Iowa vs. #1 Florida NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions
Can the Gators stay efficient against Ben McCollum's Iowa Hawkeyes?
Iowa vs. Florida Prediction: Florida Wins and Covers, Under 144.5
Best Bet: Florida -10 (-115) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Florida will have no problem putting the ball in the hoop. For starters, they are going to try and push the pace, with some degree of success. But ultimately, Iowa just does not have the bodies to compete defensively. Florida scored 74 points in just 64 possessions against Vanderbilt, albeit in a loss, but they still found ways to score.
Even if Iowa tries to make this a 50 possession game, Florida has the efficiency on offense to make it happen. They shoot well from inside, get to the free throw line, and dominate the glass on both ends of the floor. Look for the Gators to out rebound the Hawkeyes, snagging plenty of second chance points. They'll also win the free throw battle in a game where points might come at a premium.
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Check Out the Other March Madness Content from Betting News
For college basketball bettors, March Madness is the most wonderful time of the year. And at Betting News, we have you covered for this festively fun season with expert picks throughout the tournament from Nate Hornung and Eddie Griffin, consensus picks for every March Madness game from the First Four to the Final Four, a rundown of the best March Madness betting sites, and more.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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