On Tuesday night, the Indiana Hoosiers and Wyoming Cowboys dance in one of two First Four NCAA Tournament games. Indiana did not want to play in the First Four.
The Hoosiers likely believe that they’re too good to be playing in the play-in. That’s essentially what the First Four is in the NCAA Tournament. A play-in for the Round of 64, which most people consider the first round.
Indiana enters the NCAA Tournament with a record of 20-13 and 9-11 in the Big Ten. They fought hard in the Big Ten Tournament, but came up just short versus the eventual champions. Iowa bounced Indiana in an entertaining 80-77 game.
Most ????????? time of the year. pic.twitter.com/gE916OlWCR
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) March 15, 2022
The Hoosiers nearly made it another strong win in that one. They were coming off a 74-69 win over Michigan and 65-63 over the Illinois Fighting Illini. Indiana was a 5.5-point underdog against a good Illinois squad.
They just about won as a 5.5-point underdog versus Iowa as well. However, Indiana would lose, while the Hawkeyes would go on for a 75-66 win in the Big Ten Championship. The Hoosiers can bounce back and go deep in the NCAA Tournament, though.
A pesky Wyoming team is on the other side Tuesday night at UD Arena in Dayton. Wyoming is a worthy opponent and may give Indiana some problems if it’s a good night for the Cowboys. The Cowboys are 25-8 on the season going into the NCAA Tournament.
They were very fortunate to receive an at-large bid after losing three of their previous five games. I would have rather seen Texas A&M in this spot, with Wyoming, I count as lucky to be in this spot. That doesn’t mean they can’t heat up for an upset, though.
Head below for our free Indiana vs. Wyoming prediction on March 15, 2022.
Indiana Hoosiers vs. Wyoming Cowboys Betting Odds and Team Statistics:
The following odds are courtesy of BetOnline:
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Hoosiers | -4 (-115) | -180 | Over 132.5 (-105) |
| Wyoming Cowboys | +4 (-105) | +160 | Under 132.5 (-115) |
| Team Data | Indiana Hoosiers | Wyoming Cowboys |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 20-13 | 25-8 |
| ATS Record | 19-14-0 | 17-13-2 |
| Away/Home Record | NEUTRAL | NEUTRAL |
| ATS Away/Home | NEUTRAL | NEUTRAL |
| Points Per Game | 71.4 | 73.8 |
| Points Against Per Game | 65.5 | 65.7 |
| Field Goal % | 45.8 | 46.2 |
| Three Point % | 33.7 | 34.6 |
Indiana vs. Wyoming Prediction:
Indiana played some tough games this season. They’ve beaten quality opponents in the Big Ten and have also come close against others.
Despite not beating Ohio State and Wisconsin last month, Indiana was competitive in a 74-69 loss to a good Badgers team and then went to overtime on the road at Ohio State.
Indiana went to Purdue more recently and nearly knocked off the Boilermakers on the road in a 69-67 loss. Following that loss, Indiana came back to beat Michigan and Illinois.
Indiana is no stranger to playing well away from home and should be tough in Dayton tonight. They may only be 3-8 on the road, but being competitive in a tough conference counts for something.
Overall, the Hoosiers are 162nd in the NCAA, with 71.4 points scored per game. They are connecting at a 45.8% clip from the field for 45.8% in the country.
They’ve primarily relied on a tough defense to win games this season. Indiana is 15th in the NCAA with a 39% field goal percentage against. Opponents have notched 65.5 a game versus Indiana.
Indiana Hoosiers vs. Wyoming Cowboys Betting Trends:
- 4-0 ATS in their previous four games
- 13-6 ATS in their previous 19 games as a betting favorite
- 4-0 ATS in their previous four games on a neutral court
- 4-0 ATS in their previous four games versus versus a team with a winning record
- 5-1 ATS in their previous six games versus the Mountain West Conference
- 1-4 ATS in their previous five games
- 1-5 ATS in their previous six games after a loss
- 1-4 ATS in their previous five games versus a team with a winning record
- 1-3-1 ATS in their previous five games versus a team with a winning percentag better than 60%
- 1-4 overall in thier previous five games as an underdog
Wyoming has similar offensive and defensive numbers as Indiana. However, one played in the Mountain West, and the other was in the Big Ten.
The one difference is that Indiana is in the top-20 defensively from the field, while Wyoming is 78th with a 41.5% field goal percentage against. Looking at KenPom is especially important this time of year as well.
The Hoosiers are 36th on KenPom, while Wyoming checks into the NCAA Tournament in 58th. It’s hard to see Wyoming rolling over and playing dead in this one, but Indiana should use their recent success to bypass the Cowboys.
Indiana has the experience against better competition, and they appear to be pretty confident after some good basketball as of late. I’m siding with the Hoosiers to pull away to win and cover in the First Four.
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