The lone Big Ten-ACC matchup on Friday’s NCAA Tournament slate tips off in Tampa in an intriguing 8-9 battle. No. 9 Iowa (21-12) is listed as a 2.5-point favorite on the spread vs. No. 8 Clemson (24-10) for tonight's 6:50 p.m. ET tip-off on TNT.
The Hawkeyes finished ninth in the Big Ten and dropped six of their final nine contests. The Tigers appear in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time under head coach Brad Brownell since 2011.
Let’s look at our Iowa vs. Clemson prediction on the spread for Friday’s duel at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa.
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Iowa vs. Clemson Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
In 2022, Iowa held off Clemson, 74-71, but failed to cover as 8.5-point favorites.
The Tigers reached the regional finals in 2024 but were defeated by McNeese in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
The Hawkeyes are dancing for the first time since 2023 while seeking their first tournament victory since 2021. Iowa hasn’t escaped the first weekend since 1999, as the Hawkeyes would need to beat Clemson and likely No. 1 seed Florida to do appear in the regional semifinals.
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Iowa vs. Clemson Spread, Over/Under
The Hawkeyes enter this matchup as 2.5-point favorites, returning a 1.75x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Tigers are underdogs with a 2.04x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks, where you can earn money with your picks in 35 states.
- Spread: Iowa -2.5
- Over/Under: 131.5
- Game Winner Payout: Iowa 1.75x | Clemson 2.04x
Team Picks data is live as of writing and is subject to change.
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Iowa vs. Clemson Prediction on Spread for NCAA Tournament – 3/20/26
Here are some key stats to know before locking in your Iowa vs. Clemson first-round prediction on the spread for Friday, March 20, on PrizePicks.
- Since starting 8-4 in conference play, Iowa closed 2-6 in its final eight Big Ten games.
- Iowa’s three wins over NCAA Tournament qualifiers came at home, defeating UCLA, Ohio State, and Nebraska.
- The Hawkeyes finished on a 4-8 against the spread (ATS) run in the favorite role. However, six of those non-covers came as a favorite of at least 9.5 points.
- Clemson fell short in the ACC Tournament semifinals vs. Duke, 73-61, following victories over Wake Forest and North Carolina.
- The Tigers jumped out to a strong 10-1 conference start before stumbling to a 2-5 record in the last seven outings.
- Clemson endured some bad luck in ACC play as opponents shot 78% from the line. Iowa ranks 34th in the country on free throw shooting at 77%.
- These teams play at a snail's pace, as Clemson sits 333rd in adjusted tempo, while Iowa ranks 358th, per KenPom.
- The Hawkeyes struggled away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena down the stretch, dropping five of their last six away from home.
- The Tigers posted a 5-2 neutral-site record this season, falling to BYU and Duke.
- Clemson owns a 15-2 mark when shooting at least 50% on its 2-point attempts. Iowa allows opponents to convert 54.1% of its 2-point shots, ranking 284th in the nation.
Make Iowa vs. Clemson Picks on PrizePicks
The winner of this matchup likely draws the defending champion Gators in the second round. Will the Hawkeyes or Tigers bounce back from late-season struggles in Friday’s matchup in Tampa?
You can make your Iowa vs. Clemson first-round picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks to earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 35 states.
Check out the Playbook for continued college basketball predictions, news, and more throughout the NCAA Tournament.
