Villanova vs. Iowa Picks

Villanova vs. Iowa picks for the NCAA Tournament’s second round game.

Villanova marches on. What has become a program accustomed to premature exits in the past few years, the Wildcats put on a clinic in their first-round matchup against the UNC Asheville Bulldogs. Villanova pasted the Asheville by 30 points and let the world know that their No. 2 seeding is legit.

On the other side of the bracket is Iowa. The Hawkeyes were maybe the coldest team entering the tournament. A once-perceived No. 1 seed that limped through February and was fortunate to scrape a No. 7 seed (really, to avoid the play-in game). The Hawkeyes stretched their lead against Temple early in the second half, but made viewers sweat thanks to a foolish foul in the waning minutes of regulation. They tried their darndest to give the game away, but won on a buzzer-beater in overtime. Now they’ll face a great test against Villanova in what looked like a dream game for television producers back in January.

Here are the Campus Insiders Villanova vs. Iowa picks.

Pete Fiutak

Does Villanova have the bodies to deal with the Iowa size? Yup. The Wildcats will get running early and make the Hawkeyes play catchup. Iowa won’t have the rebounding advantage it possessed against Temple.

Shae Peppler

Villanova advances. Four of their five starters were in double figures in Game 1 and I believe they can do it again. I know Iowa isn’t UNC Ashville but I’ve seen the Hawkeyes fall apart when they’re uncomfortable. Nova can do that.

Robert Judin

Mikal Bridges helped out the Wildcats with 12 points off the bench against UNC Asheville. He’ll have another solid sixth-man performance as Villanova shares the basketball to take down Iowa.

Ray Crawford

Villanova continues to spread the wealth on offense and survive the opening weekend for the first time since ’09.

Jordan Cornette

Villanova takes it. Bombs away from three!

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