Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes begin their National Championship run with their first-round matchup against Holy Cross in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. All eyes will be on Clark as this will be her last dance in college basketball.
The Hawkeyes put together an impressive season capping it off so far with thier third straight Big Ten Tournament title. This team was like a magnet for the pomp and circumstance of the media and talking heads and that is thanks to Clark and her ability to put a basketball through a hoop.
Caitlin Clark is on another planet right now compared to the rest of the players on college basketball and she says she is not done yet. She and her team have something much bigger in thier sight.
A National Championship.
This season will be considered a letdown if the Hawkeyes are not hoisting the trophy at the end of it all. Getting that trophy would cement not just Clark as the best player in college basketball, but cement this team as one of the best to do it, and it all starts here in round one.
How to watch Iowa vs. Holy Cross in the NCAA Tournament Round 1
Date: Saturday, March 23
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Streaming: NCAA March Madness Live I fuboTV
Iowa vs. Holy Cross NCAA Tournament Round 1 odds
We all know that Iowa will be heavily favored in their game against Holy Cross, but I don't think you will expect how much of a favorite. FanDuel has the Hawkeyes as a 38.5-point favorite over the Crusaders.
Now this is not the first time the Hawkeyes are favored so much in a game. In their home opener, they were favored just as much and ended up winning 102-46 over Fairleigh Dickinson University. I think Holy Cross will come out fighting, but they are facing a team that will not be stopped, at east this early in the Tournament.
Iowa vs. Holy Cross NCAA Tournament Round 1 prediction
I think I would be a certified crazy person if I went with anyone other than Iowa in this game. Now, any team can be beaten on any given day and Holy Cross is going to throw everything they have at the Hawkeyes but I think this team is too good to lose in the first round.
This will be a good game to get the Hawkeyes on the court and get loose, knock off some of the rust after over a week of not playing. I think you could see the game be close for the first few minutes, but once Iowa gets into rhythm get ready for logo threes and amazing plays in the paint.