Iowa vs Clemson Picks and Predictions for Friday March 20 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 03/20/2026, 12:55 AM ET

The Iowa Hawkeyes and Clemson Tigers will meet on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:50 PM ET with television coverage on TNT. Iowa enters this matchup as a -130 favorite with a total set at 128.5 and a spread of Iowa -2.5. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more expert predictions and daily betting insights.

Hawkeyes Look to Bounce Back in Tournament Play

Iowa enters this game with a 21-12 overall record and has been competitive away from home this season. In their last five games, the Hawkeyes have recently lost to Ohio State, Nebraska, Michigan, and Penn State, while also recently winning over Maryland, showing some inconsistency entering the tournament.

Offensively, Iowa averages 75.2 points per game while allowing 66.0 points per contest. They shoot an efficient 49% from the field but are more limited on the glass with 29.4 rebounds per game. They also contribute 15.3 assists per contest and 7.1 steals per game defensively.

The Hawkeyes’ biggest strength is their efficiency on offense. They make the most of their possessions with strong shooting percentages, but they will need to improve rebounding against a physical Clemson team.

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Tigers Bring Balanced Defense into Matchup

Clemson comes into this contest with a 24-10 overall record and has been solid on neutral courts this season. In their last five games, the Tigers have recently lost to Duke and North Carolina, but picked up wins over North Carolina, Wake Forest, and Georgia Tech, showing solid overall play.

The Tigers average 74.1 points per game while allowing 66.7 points per contest. They shoot 45% from the field and collect 34.3 rebounds per game while adding 12.8 assists per contest. Defensively, they contribute 6.3 steals and 2.8 blocks per game.

Clemson’s key strength is their defensive consistency and ability to control the pace. They are comfortable playing in lower-scoring games and can limit high-efficiency offenses when executing properly.

Iowa vs Clemson Pick

Iowa vs Clemson Spread Pick

Iowa -2.5

Iowa’s offensive efficiency gives them a slight edge in what should be a tightly contested game. If they can maintain their shooting percentage and limit turnovers, they should be able to edge out Clemson late.

Iowa vs Clemson Total Pick

Under 128.5

I like the under in this game because both teams play at a slower pace and emphasize defense. With Clemson especially comfortable in low-scoring games, this matchup sets up for a lower total.

Final Score Prediction: Iowa 67, Clemson 63

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