Published Feb 27, 1:21pm ET by
Gabriel Kozlow - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Feb 27, 1:21pm ET
Updated Feb 27, 1:22pm ET
We have a huge Big 12 clash as the Iowa State Cyclones host the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones are undefeated at home this season, so the Red Raiders will need to bring their very best.
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| IOWA STATE CYCLONES | -8.5 (-105) |
| TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS | +8.5 (-105) |
The Red Raiders are a solid 21–7 overall and 11–4 in the Big 12, so this game is huge for them. They come into this one as underdogs at +8.5, mostly due to their rival’s strength as a team and the big edge Iowa State has at home. Nonetheless, Texas Tech already beat Arizona on the road, so they can do it again if they play close to perfection.
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Texas Tech will rely on their top scorer, Christian Anderson, a player who can score from anywhere on the court and is averaging around 19 PPG. Donovan Atwell, their other guard, is a sniper from outside, shooting 45% from three. They’ll be without JT Toppin, their star frontcourt player, due to an ACL tear.
Iowa State has been having an amazing season with a 24–4 overall record and 11–4 in the Big 12. They take on another conference rival at home and head into the game as favorites. They have beaten Texas Tech in three of their last four games, including a one-point victory in their most recent encounter.
The Cyclones have a top-20 offense but rely on their elite defense to get the job done. Milan Momcilovic has been shooting lights out, averaging 17.4 PPG and 51.6% from three. On the defensive end, Tamin Lipsey is averaging 2.3 SPG and also acts as the floor general for the team.
Texas Tech’s recent injury to JT Toppin has raised questions about their March Madness odds, but a road win against the Cyclones would silence a lot of critics. Iowa State is favored at -8.5 with a 145.5 over/under.
We don’t believe the Cyclones will suffer their first home loss of the season against the Red Raiders. However, Texas Tech has already pulled this off against other highly ranked teams. Let’s go with the Red Raiders +8.5 in case they manage to win outright or at least keep it close.
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Pick
Texas Tech Red Raiders +8.5
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