The No. 4 seed UConn Huskies take on Rick Pitino’s No. 13 seed Iona Gaels on Friday in the first round of West Region play in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
The Gaels are riding an impressive 14-game winning streak, but will take on a Huskies team expected to make a deep run in the tournament.
Read on for my UConn vs Iona prediction and best bets.
UConn vs Iona Odds
Note: CBB odds mentioned in this article for UConn vs Iona were used from DraftKings Sportsbook, unless otherwise noted, and are current as of Tuesday, March 14, at 2 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: UConn (-435) | Iona (+350)
- Spread: UConn -9.5 (-110) | Iona +9.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 143.5 (-110) | Under 143.5 (-110)
UConn vs Iona Pick of the Day
Keep reading for more Uconn vs Iona betting tips.
UConn vs Iona Prediction
UConn 79, Iona 67
As a team that relies heavily on scoring points in transition, Iona matches up poorly with UConn.
The Huskies excel at shutting down the fast break and have a far superior offense that could see them run away with this opening-round matchup.
📈 Keep track of NCAA Tournament winner odds to find our best March Madness bets:
UConn vs Iona Best Bets
UConn -9.5 (-110) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 2 Units
The Huskies are among a few teams to rank in the top 20 in offensive and defensive efficiency and should have a drama-free win over Iona on Friday.
Over 143.5 Total Points (-110) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Iona has an outstanding defense on paper, but they played a much easier schedule and are not equipped to stop a team as good as UConn.
This game could get out of hand with the Huskies’ offense exploding for a big game.
UConn vs Iona Same Game Parlay
UConn vs Iona Parlay (+158) | FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
- UConn: Over 76.5 Points (-112)
- UConn -9.5 (-105)
As stated above, UConn could run away with this game against an outclassed Iona team.
With that in mind, I wanted to bet the spread and team total to gain extra value on Friday’s matchup.