The NCAA’s all-time scoring leader has one last milestone to cross during her incredible run in Iowa City, as Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes look for their first national title.
Clark’s throng of fans and the energized Iowa sports betting base will be watching intently.
The 22-year-old from West Des Moines surpassed LSU legend Pete Maravich as the top scorer in college basketball on Sunday afternoon. Clark is now at 3,685 points and counting.
Up first for Clark and the Hawkeyes is this week’s Big Ten Tournament, which Iowa has won in two of her three collegiate campaigns, in 2022 (over Indiana) and 2023 (over Ohio State). Iowa has gone on to lose in the Sweet 16 (2021), second round (2022) and the national final (2023) in Clark’s previous three trips to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.
This year, oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook Iowa give Clark and the Hawkeyes -110 odds of winning the Big Ten title, to go with +700 title odds, ranking third nationally behind South Carolina (-130) and defending champion LSU (+600).
Bettors will want FanDuel or the Fanatics Iowa sportsbook when placing wagers.
To get a sense of what awaits Clark and Iowa this weekend in Minneapolis, BetIowa.com – your source for Iowa sports betting apps - broke down how the Hawkeyes have done over the last three years in the event and previewed what they must do to capture a third consecutive Big Ten title in 2024.
Caitlin Clark in Big Ten Tournament
💰 Check out Caitlin Clark's NIL Deals and valuation.
Can Clark and Iowa Make It 3 Straight?
Right now, Clark and the Hawkeyes are prepping for their opening game of the conference tournament against No. 7 seed Penn State at 6:30 p.m. Central time on Friday, with the winner taking on either No. 3 Indiana or sixth seed Michigan in Saturday’s semifinals. Caesars Iowa has Iowa as a 17-point favorite over Penn State.
This year, Iowa beat the Nittany Lions in their only matchup of the regular season, 111-93, on Feb. 8 in Iowa City. Clark actually was upstaged by forward Hannah Stuelke, who scored a career-high 47 points in the Hawkeyes’ win at home.
Clark was no slouch herself in that Penn State clash, with 27 points on 8-for-23 shooting, to go with 15 assists and 5 rebounds, while hitting all seven of her free throws. That outing is similar to the stats she posted against the Wolverines (49 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists) and the Hoosiers (27 points, 10.5 assists and 10 rebounds per game in two contests) this year.
With wins over the Nittany Lions and either the Hoosiers or Wolverines, Clark and Iowa likely will play either top-seeded Ohio State or No. 4 seed Michigan State, though matchups against No. 8 Maryland or No. 5 Nebraska could happen with the right upsets along the way.
Either way, Clark will look to win three games in as many days in Minneapolis to get Iowa across the finish line and on top of the Big Ten table in her final go-round as a collegiate player.
