NFL Tickets
TV Schedule: Thursday, Nov. 26, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Arena: HP Field House, Kissimmee, Fla.
Line: Iowa (-1.5)
Two undefeated college basketball teams kick off the Thanksgiving Day night cap, with the Iowa Hawkeyes facing the Dayton Flyers in the 2015 AdvoCare Invitational.
The Flyers were expected to make the 2016 NCAA tournament heading into the season and have done nothing to show otherwise so far. Dayton boasts a talented roster with tons of experience, so it should be no surprise that they have entered the season undefeated with big wins. The William & Mary Tribe gave this team a scare, but the Flyers should head into their holiday tournament game with confidence.
Iowa, on the other hand, was expected to drop off significantly heading into this season. With teams like the Wisconsin Badgers, Indiana Hoosiers and Ohio State Buckeyes showing early-season vulnerabilities, the Hawkeyes have a legitimate chance to prove that they are an NCAA tournament team and, potentially, a top 25 team.
Iowa is the favored team in this one, but looks can be deceiving. Dayton’s struggles in their last outing seemed to have more to do with the fatigue of playing three games in eight days and the underrated talent of William & Mary rather than their own failures. Iowa stomped the extremely talented Marquette Golden Eagles and have had a crucial week of rest before heading to Florida.
Neither team is ranked; expect one to be after this weekend. I’m giving this game to Iowa, as they have will have far more confidence and motivation to win the AdvoCare Invitational due to being overlooked in the Big 10 to enter the season.
Prediction: Iowa 70, Dayton 64
Taylor Sturm is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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